Woman Charged After Allegedly Hiding Seafood in Purse

The following incidents and arrests were reported by the Downers Grove Police Department:

Thursday, April 28

11:30 p.m.: Jasmine L. Brown, 22, of Bolingbrook was charged with obstructing identification and driving with a suspended license after police responded to a call from an intoxicated guest at Red Roof Inn, 1113 Butterfield Road.

The man said Brown did not return to the hotel after he had loaned her his car and American Express card to purchase wine. He told police he had met Brown outside his room and had talked with her for about an hour before giving her the car keys. He also stated his cell phone was missing from the room. The man called American Express and was told a $435.86 charge was made at a Glen Ellyn Walmart.

Police on patrol recognized the car, driven by Brown, as it re-entered the hotel parking lot at 1:08 a.m. The woman entered a room where police found her and asked for her identification. Police said Brown first gave a false name and date of birth. She was later identified and taken in on a previous warrant and the new charges. The hotel guest checked his car and found his cell phone, credit cards and keys inside.

Friday, April 29

11:00 a.m.: Joanne Kousnetz, 42, of Westmont was charged with retail theft after allegedly taking items valued at $51 from Westbrook Market, 2065 63rd St. A manager said Kousnetz entered the store with a large, gray handbag that appeared to be empty. He later observed Kousnetz allegedly remove items from shelves and place them in the handbag.

After Kousnetz purchased additional items at the register, the manager stopped her outside the store. Police said spiced octopus, herring, candy, crab meat, clams, rice, clam juice, Nutella spread, cereal and a garlic clove were found concealed in the bag. Kousnetz told the manager she was out of work and trying to feed her four-year-old, according to the report.

12:33 p.m.: A leather purse valued at $100 and containing items valued at $720 was taken from the front porch of a home in the 6700 block of Saratoga Avenue. Police said the resident forgot the purse on the porch while unloading items from her car between 12:25 p.m. and 12:33 p.m. An iPod, iPhone, cash, five credit cards, and five store credit vouchers were among the items taken from the purse.

4:52 p.m.: A woman came to the police station to report $96 in cash, a debit card and a credit card were taken from her purse at TJ Maxx Home Goods, 7349 Lemont Road, around 12:30 p.m. The woman said the purse was taken from a shopping cart and later found by a manager in the shoe department, but the cash and cards were missing.

Saturday, April 30

7:46 a.m.: Items valued at $1,767 were taken from a work van parked at Red Roof Inn, 1113 Butterfield Road, between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. April 29. Police said the passenger side front door lock was punched out to gain entry. A laptop, GPS, BOSE subwoofer and Pioneer speakers were taken from the front of the van and A Bosch drill and miscellaneous tools were taken from the back. Damage to the lock was estimated at $80.

10:49 a.m.: Identity theft was reported by a resident in the 6400 block of Devane Court after he discovered fraudulent charges were made to his business credit card between April 18 and April 30. Police said the man received a call from StubHub when someone attempted to use the card to purchase $1,104.95 in tickets to a Memphis Grizzlies Basketball playoff game. The man checked his account online and discovered $81.19 had been charged on April 18, 23 and 28 for prepaid wireless phones.

12:37 p.m.: A car was scratched on the driver side doors, resulting in $500 of paint damage, while parked at a lot of Corridors III, 2650 Warrenville Road, between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. April 30.

5:36 p.m.: Tires on a car parked in the 2200 block of Prentiss Drive were deflated between 7 p.m. April 29 and 1:45 p.m. April 30. Police said the owner discovered both driver side tires had been deflated.

Sunday, May 1

6:50 a.m.: An iPod valued at $150 and $400 in cash were taken from purse left inside a car parked in the 4500 block of Sherwood Avenue between 10:30 p.m. April 30 and 6:33 a.m. May 1. A woman reported her car may have been unlocked when she parked it in the driveway. The contents of the purse were dumped on the driveway near the driver side door, and the cash and iPod missing. Police said there were no signs of forced entry and a camera and Nintendo DS were still in the car.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity in our town, using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member are charged with a crime or cited for a violation and the charge or citation is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor of this Patch at elaine@Patch.com so we can follow up on the case.