Fencing Taken at Downers Grove South High School

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

Fencing taken at high school

A section of blue fence valued at $657 was taken from a softball field at Downers Grove South High School, 1436 Norfolk St. between 4 p.m. September 20 and 8 a.m. September 21. A grounds crew employee told police one section of the home run marker fencing was missing and another section was found near the backstop area close to 63rd Street. The employee said the fencing is very heavy and would have required several people to remove it from the property.

Retail theft at electronics store

Akua Lavow, 28, of Chicago was charged with retail theft, aggravated battery and resisting a peace officer after allegedly taking two Apple iPads valued at $1,460 and running from Best Buy, 1432 Butterfield Road around 4:30 p.m. September 23. Loss prevention employees told police another employee alerted them to Lavow being on his knees with the iPads in a different aisle than where the iPads are displayed in the store. The loss prevention employees observed Lavow walking throughout the store and enter the restroom with the items. One of the employees went into the restroom and reported hearing aluminum foil being crumpled in one of the stalls. The employee left the restroom and said when Lavow exited the outline of the packages were visible under his jacket.

Loss prevention employees waited for Lavow near the store exit and stopped him in the vestibule. When questioned about the items, Lavow told the employees to leave him alone and allegedly started swinging his arms, striking one employee in the chest and then started running. The two employees chased Lavow through the parking lot and across Butterfield Road until Lavow fell near a restaurant. According to the report, officers were informed by dispatch where the employees were and upon arrival heard Lavow yelling and swearing at the employee who was holding him on the ground. The police officers repeatedly instructed Lavow to place his hands behind his back and he refused. Lavow continually pulled away while officers were handcuffing him and according to the report Lavow was belligerent to officers and employees of the store.

Possession of cannabis sativa plant charges

Michelle L. Atkinson, 51, of Downers Grove was charged with unlawful possession of a cannabis sativa plant after police found the plant growing in a pot at her residence in the 5000 block of Washington Street at 10:26 am. September 24. An officer on patrol observed a male squatting by a toolbox near the sidewalk and when the male saw the officer, he stood up and ran into a back yard. The officer parked his car and as he approached the toolbox, another male came out and inquired what was wrong as the male who had run tried to conceal himself behind a tree and shrubs in the yard. According to the report, the male was instructed by the officer to come out and when asked by he ran away the male said he never saw the squad car. The officer then saw a three foot high cannabis sativa plant growing in a clay flower pot in the area where the male had been standing and both males said it was not their plant. Atkinson came outside to see why police were there and when asked about the plant, she said it was hers. Police confiscated the plant and Atkinson was taken to the station.

Graffiti on barricades and signs

Graffiti was found on four construction barricades and four street signs in the 4500 block of Middaugh Avenue at 9:10 a.m. September 25. Police said marker was used and the graffiti did not appear to be gang related.

Keys found at parking deck

A set of keys was found at the Downers Grove Parking Deck, 945 Curtiss St. and brought to the station on September 25. An unidentified citizen brought the keys to the station and said the keys had been near the Mochel Drive entrance since September 22.

Disorderly conduct charges

Kenneth G. Osowski, 54, of Woodridge was charged with disorderly conduct after he allegedly urinated on a wall at the Main Street Depot, 1000 Burlington Avenue. A witness told police he saw Osowski urinate on the north wall of the depot and said Osowski had also been harassing people in the area.

Smash and grab at gym

A window was broken and a purse taken from a car at X-Sport Fitness, 3200 Finley Road between 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. September 25. The owner said her Coach purse valued at $300 was removed from the backseat of the car. The purse contained a Coach wallet valued at $200, $300 in cash, gold earrings valued at $800, a credit card and a debit card. Damage to the car was estimated at $100.  

Damage to car reported

The driver’s side mirror was hit on a car parked in the street in the 1100 block of Valley View Drive between 8 p.m. September 25 and 1:10 a.m. September 26. Damage was estimated at $100.

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 Robert.Bykowski@Patch.com so we can follow up on the case.