Lots of Nakedness, Holiday Spirit Fails: Some of the Oddest Crimes of 2011

Posted January 2, 2012.

We’ve compiled a month-by-month recap of some of the strangest crimes reported to Elmhurst police during 2011. There were many, many to choose from, but here’s just a sampling.

January

They’ll Have to Find It First

Police were called to track down a woman who refused to return a vehicle to Howard Pontiac, 364 W. Grand Ave. The finance manager called the woman and told her to come back to the dealership because there was an issue with the dealership license plates on the gray 2007 Saturn she was trying to finance. When she arrived at the dealership at 8:15 p.m. Jan. 11, she was told that, in fact, the vehicle was no longer hers because she could not be approved for financing. The woman said she needed to get her personal items out of the vehicle before returning it, but once she was in the vehicle, she drove out of the dealership. Police contacted her and advised her to return the vehicle. She reportedly told them, “they can come and get it.” A tow truck was dispatched to her Alsip home, and the vehicle was retrieved and returned to Howard Pontiac.

February

A Little Kibble?

A 72-year-old Elmhurst man was charged with disorderly conduct after he reportedly was found hiding near his neighbor’s yard on the 600 block of South Rex Street.

The victim told police at 10:38 p.m. Feb. 24 he noticed his dogs were barking near the fence. When he went outside to see why they were barking, he reportedly found Roger D. Grobe, of 601 S. Rex St., hiding in the weeds. The victim asked Grobe what he was doing, and Grobe allegedly said he had something for the victim’s dogs.

The victim told police Grobe was trying to hide a can of chemical dog repellent behind his back. He also told police that during the altercation, Grobe said he wanted to give the victim “another smack in the head.”

The victim said that since Grobe had hit him before, he decided to call police.

Grobe was taken into custody and released on I-bond.

March

Disappearing Naked Man

Elmhurst Police received a call at 11:15 a.m. Friday, March 25, that a man, about 60 years old was standing by a tree on the east side of Poplar near the Prairie Path with his pants and underwear down around his ankles.

The caller said the man was just standing there, looking around. It was reported that a black Cadillac with a soft top was parked on the north side of Vallette, east of Poplar, but it is unknown if the car belonged to the man.

Police checked the area but could not locate him.

April

Smiley-face Bandit

Elmhurst Police reported several instances of property being defaced with spray-painted smiley faces.

In one incident, a woman told police she found a smiley face on the hood of her vehicle, which was parked on the 100 block of Haven Street between 10:30 p.m. April 29 and 6:25 a.m. April 30. While investigating this incident, the officer noticed another car on the same block also had been vandalized with a spray-painted smiley face. The officer was not able to contact the owner of that vehicle.

A third vehicle that was parked in the municipal lot at Haven and First also had been spray-painted. The owner was not located.

But the vandal(s) did not limit the “artwork” to cars. Sometime between 12:01 and 7:59 a.m. April 30, a black smiley face was spray painted on the north wall of 7-Eleven, 155 E. First St., and a white smiley face was found on the side of a dumpster at the same address.

During the same time period and nearby, a fence on the 100 block of Clara Place also was painted with white paint. Police did not indicate if this vandalism was in the form of a smiley face.

May

Concealed Where?

Sylvia J. Mapp, 27, 318 Clayton Ave., Hillside, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and unauthorized use of a weapon after an incident at 3:33 a.m. May 13 at Butterfield Road and Cadwell Street.

Police pulled Mapp’s red Dodge Charger over for speeding and making an improper turn. She reportedly was driving while intoxicated with her 3-year-old daughter in the vehicle. She was taken to the police station.

Police discovered she was concealing a set of brass knuckles in her cleavage. In addition to the DUI and weapons charge, Mapp was charged with endangering the life of a child. She was released after posting bond.

June

That’s Not a Happy Meal

Someone got more than they bargained for in the drive-through of the McDonald’s at 190 E. Butterfield Road June 29.

A woman driving in the parking lot cut off another driver in the drive-through at 12:35 p.m. When the victim told her, “that was rude,” the women yelled, “Whatever.” She then sprayed soda all over the victim’s car.

The victim then took a picture of the woman’s car, at which point the offender got out of her car, approached the victim and said “take a picture of this.” She then pulled down her pants and mooned the victim, and also lifted up her shirt.

Police made contact with the woman, but as of the time the police report was filed, they had not yet filed charges.

July

Meat Can be Good for You

A woman told police she was approached by a man at Cayuga and York at 4:49 a.m. July 15. The man asked her where Elmhurst was, and she said they were in Elmhurst. He then “appeared disappointed.”

The offender reportedly had slurred speech and appeared very confused. He grabbed the woman with both of his hands and tugged her. She hit him on top of his head with a pot roast and Italian sausages in a bag, police said.

The man, who had a shaved head and was about 35 years old and 185 pounds, left the scene in a red Honda.

August

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September

Oops

A man was arrested after breaking into a car Sept. 16.

When police came upon Eduardo Rivera, 27, 325 E. Myrick, Addison, at 2:09 a.m. Sept. 16, he reportedly was passed out behind the wheel of a Toyota Camry that was parked on First Street near Larch Avenue. Police noticed that the drivers side window on the Camry was smashed out, and glass was strewn throughout the inside of the car.

When Rivera woke up, he reportedly told police that he was drunk and had to break into his car because he had locked his keys inside. Police determined, however, that Rivera broke into the wrong car. They found his Mitsubishi parked on the third floor of the Larch Parking Deck.

Rivera was charged with criminal damage to a vehicle and criminal trespass to a vehicle. He was released on bond.

October

That’s the Spirit

An employee of Pythagoras Childrens Academy, 893 N. Church Road, said she found a threatening letter on her desk when she came to school at 8:15 a.m. Oct. 6. She told police many parents were upset that the School Board changed the time of the Christmas program.

November

Aaand, Another Naked Guy

Staff at Springhill Suites, 410 W. Lake St., told police that while they were working on the first floor at 3:51 p.m. Nov. 16, they saw a man walk out of the men’s public bathroom without any clothes on. They said they only saw him from behind, and as soon as he realized they had seen him, he went back into the bathroom. They told the manager, who sent maintenance workers into the bathroom, but the man was gone. Employees did not recognize the man and did not know whether he was a guest. They told police they probably would not be able to identify him again if they saw him.

December

Santa Will Not Be Pleased

Someone decapitated a reindeer that was part of a holiday display at the City Centre fountain, York and Schiller streets, between 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2 and 6 p.m. Dec. 3. Another reindeer was pushed over and had its legs broken. Damage is estimated at $300 to $400.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity 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 contact karenc@patch.com and we will do follow-up reporting on the case.