Wedge Year End Report

2014
WEDGE YEAR END REPORT
Chief Tom Weitzel, Chairperson,

Riverside PD, Cmdr. Michael Keating,
Forest Park PD and Sgt. Guy Papa,
Berwyn PD
WEDGE MEMBER
POLICE DEPARTMENTS
BERWYN
Chief Jim Ritz
BROOKFIELD
Chief Steve Stelter
ELMWOOD PARK
Chief Frank Fagiano
FOREST PARK
Chief Jim Ryan
Co-Chairperson
jryan@forestpark.net
708 366 2425
Dora Murphy
Secretary
NORTH RIVERSIDE
Chief Lane Niemann
OAK PARK
Chief Rick Tanksley
RIVER FOREST
Chief Greg Weiss
RIVER GROVE
Chief Rodger Loni
RIVERSIDE
Chief Tom Weitzel
Chairperson
708 447 2127
tweitzel@riverside.il.us
STICKNEY
Chief John Sladetz
C/O: Riverside Police Department, 31 Riverside Rd., Riverside, IL 60546
WEST SUBURBAN DIRECTED GANG ENFORCEMENT - 2014 Activity

Berwyn/Brookfield/Elmwood Park/Forest Park/North Riverside/Oak Park/Riverside/River Forest/River Grove/Stickney
To:
Chiefs, Commanders, Personnel, Elected Officials and Cook County Citizens
Fm:
Chief Tom Weitzel
Re:
2014 Annual WEDGE Report
It is my pleasure to submit the 2014 WEDGE annual mission report on the work done under
the Task Force. This regional Task Force has had a tremendous impact on public safety and
quality of life in the 10 communities of the west suburban Cook County region. We moved
forward with efforts to fight major crime and coordinate regional effort to investigate and
prosecute major drug trafficking, criminal enterprises and gang activity in suburban Cook
County.
Regionalization for public safety is making a real difference in our region due to efforts by
WEDGE personnel. Thank you so much for the opportunity to continue to strengthen our
partnerships between the many participating municipal, state and federal law enforcement
agencies.
Through the multi aid agreement under WEDGE, we have formed an outstanding team of
law enforcement professionals to investigate and prosecute major crimes in the region.
WEDGE officers did extraordinary work to reduce crime and impact the quality of life in
2014. Local, state, and federal resources have been coordinated with great success. There
were 50 Task Force deployments resulting in 48 arrests for major crimes.
Trainings on search and seizure, cell phone technology, digital forensics, and advanced
investigation techniques have raised the level of professionalism for task force members
and the police departments where their knowledge and expertise is shared.
This report details the steps to achieving our objectives and the challenges along the way. I
want to recognize the great work done by the participating officers and police chiefs from
municipalities of Berwyn, Brookfield, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, North Riverside, Oak Park,
River Forest, River Grove, Riverside and Stickney Police Departments, and Dora Murphy of
the Forest Park Police Department who serves as secretary for the Task Force.
I want to specially recognize Forest Park Commander Michael Keating and Berwyn Sergeant
Guy Papa for their extraordinary efforts in organizing and leading our Gang and Drug Task
Force.
If you have questions or want further information, please contact me at any time.
Federal Partners:
ATF and DEA
Thomas Q. Weitzel
Thomas Q. Weitzel
Riverside Police Chief and WEDGE Chairperson
2014 ARREST / OPERATIONS

SUMMARY
January 2014
Assist Other Agency Home Invasion South Haven Mississippi
Kwame Becton - WEDGE/Forest Park P.D. and the South Haven Mississippi P.D. worked
together to arrest Becton for 5 active warrants after he brutally beat an 86 year old woman
during a home invasion. He then stole her vehicle and drove it to Forest Park, where he
ditched it. WEDGE Officers located Becton and turned him over to investigators from South
Haven Mississippi. He was placed into custody without incident.
Warrant Service Georgia
Wayne Howard Norman was arrested on three out-of-state warrants out of Georgia, failure to
appear on three fraud charges. He was expedited back to Georgia after being turned over to the
Cook County Sheriffs Office. *NO PICTURE*
Warrant Service Chicago Police Department

Dwayne Wells was arrested after a street stop. He had a parole
violation warrant out of Chicago for possession of a controlled
substance. Wells has been arrested 34 times.
Criminal Damage > 300

Tyran Lockett was arrested for Criminal Damage >300 <10,000 after he removed
multiple copper lines from an air conditioning unit, and sold them as scrap. Lockett
provided a written statement implicating himself in this offense.
Armed Habitual Criminal / Aggravated UUW-Felon

Shannon Jefferson was arrested after being found in possession of a
9mm handgun during a traffic stop. Charged with ARMED HABITUAL
CRIMINAL and AGGRAVATED UUW-FELON
IVC Violation - Possession of Cannabis

Richard Eames vehicle curbed for an IVC violation. Eames was in possession of a
clear knotted plastic bag, containing three clear Ziploc baggies containing
suspected cannabis, and a cannabis cigarette inside his right sock. He was also in
possession of $3,540.00 USC separated into three rubber banded bundles.
Eames was processed and the currency was seized pending a 1505 asset seizure
hearing.
February 2014
Warrant Service Recovered Guns

Franklin Principe was stopped for a traffic violation. He had two active warrants.
WEDGE also recovered a .38 caliber handgun and a Remington 12 gauge
shotgun from him.
Residential Burglary Felony

Damien Romero was picked up at his home after being identified
as being involved in a RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY that occurred
on 12/31/2013. Romero gave full written statement of his
involvement. Antonio Lemus turned himself in after he was
implicated by Romero. Between the two, they were charged with
four felonies.
Commercial Burglary
Cory Froio and James Lange were arrested for commercial
burglary after they were seen stealing construction materials
and placing them into a vehicle that was parked behind 6136
Roosevelt Road. Froio was arrested after a foot chase. Both
gave statements implicating themselves.
March 2014
Transmitting a Threat
Douala Mitchell posted several messages on Facebook threatening to shoot
several students at Riverside Brookfield High School. He was charged with
transmitting a threat.
IVC Violations Cannabis Arrest

Reynaldo Garcia, Dominic Seropian Jr., Patrick
Hernandez were stopped for IVC violations. 62
grams of cannabis was found and $411.00 was
seized.
April 2014
Search Warrant Arrested

Arnold Cox was a target of a search warrant. He was detained and 13.5 pounds
of cannabis and a Taurus PT845 .45 handgun were seized. He was also in
possession of .380 rounds, 9mm rounds and additional .45 caliber rounds. Cox
also had $1149.00 which was seized.
Search Warrant Possession of Cannabis w/ intent to Deliver
Anthony Darby - WEDGE Officers assisted River Forest in a search warrant
for 1306 S. 6th Ave, Maywood, IL. During the execution of the warrant, a total
of 104 grams of cannabis was located in the bedroom. Darby was charged
with possession of cannabis and possession with the intent to deliver.
Warrant Arrest DuPage County

Surrvell Harris was arrested for a DuPage County warrant. He was in
possession of $2,550.00 USC and was held pending seizure.
.
Traffic Stop Aggravated UUW

Jahmall Jones was the front passenger of a vehicle that was stopped for traffic
violations. Jones reached down underneath his front passenger seat and
concealed an InterArms Walther .380 cal s/n 254332 on the floor. Jones was
arrested and charged with AGGRAVATED UNLAWFUL USE OF A WEAPON.
June 2014
Residential Burglary
Kelly Nolan and co-defendant, Rustom Walter broke a window
pane on the rear door of an apartment and Nolan gained access by
climbing through the window. Nolan then opened the front door and
let Walter into the apartment. A flat screen TV, two laptops and a
PS3 Playstation were taken. Nolan provided a written statement
implicating her involvement in the burglary.
July 2014
Organized Continuous Financial Crime

Yacoub Khalifeh and Wael Jarwan were arrested after an
investigation conducted by the River Forest Police Department
along with the Chicago Police Department, Porter County
Sheriffs Department and the Cook County States Attorneys
Office working with Walgreens and CVS. They were charged
with a Class X Felony for Organizing a Continuous Financial Crime
Enterprise. $14,000.00 USC and five vehicles were seized as well
as $19,000.00 in stolen merchandise recovered.
August 2014
Retail Theft Felony

Akell Awad was arrested for RETAIL THEFT after removing $71.88 of Red
Bull from Jewel in River Forest. He later gave a written statement
admitting to the theft. He was charged with Felony theft.
Aggravated Flee/Elude/Battery
David McCarthy - Officers tried to curb vehicle and McCarthy fled 21 mph
over the speed limit. Identification was made through I-Clear photograph
during the pursuit. McCarthy then fought with CPD and WEDGE Officers
when they attempted to locate and take him into custody. He was charged
with AGG FLEE/ELUDE/BATTERY.
September 2014
Search Warrant POC / UUW

Deandre Pressweood - WEDGE Officers assisted Berwyn with a search
warrant-arrest POC UUW. Recovered One Davis P380 Serial #4P373139.
Possession of Controlled Substance/Cocaine/Cannabis

Carlos Almaraz was arrested for possession of controlled substance/cocaine
and possession of cannabis. Officers also recovered .25 cal Titan Tiger
firearm.
Residential Burglary Aggravated Battery to Police Officer Joshua Velez WEDGE Officers assisted Brookfield in arresting Velez for residential burglary,
aggravated battery to a police officer, aggravated fleeing to elude and reckless driving.
Search Warrant
Kristopher Perez and Julio Guzman were arrested during a
WEDGE Search Warrant in Elmwood Park. After the search
was performed, 14 ecstasy pills were recovered from the laundry
room.
October 2014
Criminal Trespass to Motor Vehicle

Anthony Sanchez and Daniel Robinson were found breaking
into vehicles In Stickney and removing items. They were both
charged with Criminal Trespass to Motor Vehicle.
Felony Retail Theft

Tiffanie Haberland burglarized her fathers home and stole numerous items;
even pawning some of them. She was charged with Felony Theft. WEDGE
officers staked out her home and arrested her as she pulled up in her
boyfriends car.
Residential Burglary
Simone Blissett was a suspect in numerous residential burglaries
in River Forest and surrounding communities. WEDGE Officers
staked out her home in Chicago and then took her into custody.
River Forest charged her with residential burglary.
.November 2014
Domestic Battery
Terrill Hayes was arrested for domestic battery in Elmwood Park by WEDGE
officers; complaints signed
Stolen Vehicle and Burglary

Pierre Keith was the driver of a stolen vehicle and fled on foot. Keith was
captured and charged with three counts of burglary with the proceeds from
burglaries found in the stolen vehicle.
December 2014
Burglary
Robert Landfair, Ahmad Brown and Curtis
Echols were investigated, arrested and
charged with burglary of Currie Motors car
dealership in Forest Park.
Traffic Stop Arrest Possession of Cannabis

Kierre Gladney and Sawvanche Wonsey - WEDGE Officers
conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle where Wonsey was a
passenger. Officers smelled cannabis and while an
investigation was conducted, Wonsey ran from the scene with
officers in foot pursuit. Wonsey ran to his home which was a
block away. WEDGE and Oak Park Officers went to his home
and were confronted by angry family members. During the
course of the investigation, Gladney, who is Wonseys older brother, shoved one officer and
struck another with an open hand. Gladney was arrested for two counts of battery to a police
officer, and Wonsey, who left his cannabis in the vehicle he fled from, was found hiding in a
parked vehicle behind his house. He charged with possession of cannabis.
Felony Retail Theft / Continuing Financial Crime

Melinda L. Mayes was taken into custody by WEDGE Surveillance officers
who staked out and charged with Retail Theft after she took $837.00 worth of
fragrances from Ulta in River Forest. She provided a written statement
implicating herself in this offense as well as numerous felony thefts in
Oakbrook, Skokie, Norridge, Bloomingdale, Schaumburg, and Chicago. She
was charged with Felony Retail Theft and Continuing a Financial Crime.
Stats for 2014

Arrests
2013
2014
Felony Charges
102
75
Misdemeanor Charges
35
49
Ordinance Charges
10
Warrants
21
35
Guns Recovered
15
Seized U.S. Currency
$10,213.00
$21,035.00
Street/Traffic Encounters
418
456
Operational Days
46
50
Average Criminal Charges per Operational Day

Wedge Year End Report

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2014

WEDGE YEAR END REPORT

Chief Tom Weitzel, Chairperson,

C/O: Riverside Police Department, 31 Riverside Rd., Riverside, IL 60546

WEST SUBURBAN DIRECTED GANG ENFORCEMENT - 2014 Activity

Chief Tom Weitzel

2014 Annual WEDGE Report

2014 ARREST / OPERATIONS

Assist Other Agency Home Invasion South Haven Mississippi

Warrant Service Chicago Police Department

Criminal Damage > 300

Armed Habitual Criminal / Aggravated UUW-Felon

IVC Violation - Possession of Cannabis

Warrant Service Recovered Guns

Residential Burglary Felony

IVC Violations Cannabis Arrest

Search Warrant Arrested

Warrant Arrest DuPage County

Traffic Stop Aggravated UUW

Organized Continuous Financial Crime

Retail Theft Felony

Search Warrant POC / UUW

Possession of Controlled Substance/Cocaine/Cannabis

Criminal Trespass to Motor Vehicle

Felony Retail Theft

Stolen Vehicle and Burglary

Traffic Stop Arrest Possession of Cannabis

Felony Retail Theft / Continuing Financial Crime

Stats for 2014

Seized U.S. Currency

Average Criminal Charges per Operational Day

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