Crime & Safety

Downers Grove Police Crack Down on Solicitors

Downers Grove police reports, Aug. 13-15.

THURSDAY, AUG. 15

School's Solar Panel Pummeled With Rocks

One of five solar panels was reported damaged at Hillcrest School on the 1400 block of Jefferson Avenue, police said. The incident occurred sometime between noon Aug. 9 and 6:35 a.m. Aug. 15. "(A custodian) advised that there were several rocks on the roof of the school and on the ground below the panels," the police report said. "Unknown persons apparently were throwing rocks at the panel causing the damage." The 3' by 4' solar panel is valued at $500, according to the report.

TUESDAY, AUG. 13

Solicitor Shut Down I

Jonathan Gardner, 26, of the 700 block of Navajo Avenue, Apache Junction, Ill., was charged with commercial solicitation without a permit. Police found Gardner after being dispatched at 7:43 p.m. to a suspicious person call on the 6300 block of Wells. The officer recognized Gardner because he had assisted on a call earlier where Gardner was warned not to solicit for magazine sales without a permit. During the first incident, Gardner told police he would call his supervisor and have him pick him up for the night, the report said. Gardner was released on I-bond with a pending court date. 

Solicitor Shut Down II

Daniel Alan Shinost, 18, of the 800 1/2 Lane of the first block of 1/2 Powell, WY, was charged with commercial solicitation without a permit. Police found Shinost after being dispatched at 7:19 p.m. to a possible disorderly conduct call at 55th Street and Fairview Avenue. A resident was following Shinost and was later located. The resident, who lives on the 5400 block of Florence Avenue, said that Shinost was at his door trying to sell him magazine subscriptions. The resident had been scammed in the past and sent him on his way. The resident began following Shinost because he did not a solicitation permit displayed, according to a police report.

Police checked village records and Shinost, who is employed with National Cash Rewards, did not have a permit for solicitation on file. Shinost was transported to the Downers Grove Police Department and later released on I-bond.

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