Chicago Sun-Times

Police warn of robberies on Loop CTA trains, platforms

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:34:01 -0500

Police are warning Loop train riders about a recent increase in robberies on CTA trains and platforms. The man approaches people on CTA trains and platforms and steals iPhones and purses by using force or the threat of force, according to a community alert from Area Central detectives.

Police: Man touches woman’s leg at South Loop CTA station

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:20:00 -0500

The 41-year-old woman was riding the escalator to the Orange Line platform at 50 E. Roosevelt Rd. when a man approached from behind and “placed his hand on her leg,” according to an alert from Area Central detectives.

Ex-con gets 32 years for sexually assaulting roommate

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:48:01 -0500

A convicted bank robber who was accused of raping his roommate — whom he found online — was sentenced Tuesday to 32 years in prison for the assault. William R. Swiderski, 53, pleaded guilty to two felony charges of criminal sexual assault before Will County Judge Daniel Rozak. In September 2011, he rented a house in Rockdale and advertised for a roommate online. A 38-year-old woman answered the ad and had been living there for about a month when Swiderski attacked her, authorities said.

Former Elgin deputy police chief indicted on official misconduct chareges

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:15:21 -0500

A Kane County grand jury indicted Robert Beeter, 51, of Elgin, on 16 counts of felony identity theft and four counts of official misconduct, according to a statement from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s office. Beeter allegedly used the personal identification information of someone he knew to access that person’s email account numerous times between Aug. 11, 2010, and April 12, 2011, according to prosecutors.

Guilty plea in slashing death of Chicago Bears fan in Florida bar

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:26:11 -0500

Family, friends of William “Chris” Pettry, of Lake Villa, were relieved they wouldn’t have to endure a trial. They didn’t want to hear the gruesome details, once again, of how William “Chris” Pettry, a 42-year-old Lake Villa man died in what they called a “killer’s unprovoked and evil act.”

Authorities: Man pointed gun at Northwest Indiana bicyclists in road rage incident

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:45:50 -0500

A 52-year-old man allegedly pointed a loaded gun at a bicyclist on a Northwest Indiana road for not riding where he believed was far enough to the right side of the road, authorities said. Police arrested Moses Pagan, of rural Michigan City, on felony charges of pointing a loaded firearm and intimidation after the road rage incident at about 8:55 a.m. Sunday.

DNA from Bulls hat links teen to pizza delivery shooting: prosecutors

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:43:19 -0500

Mark Villanueva was wearing the hat when he opened fire and shot the 46-year-old victim in the chest and left pinky in the 3500 block of West 83rd Street, according to a Cook County prosector. The then 16-year-old also allegedly aimed at the victim’s co-worker but the 49-year-old woman ran and hid behind the pizza delivery van, avoiding the two bullets that pierced the vehicle.

Defendant killed restaurant manager ‘because he could,’ prosecutor says

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:52:50 -0500

James Ealy kept the change — the dimes and quarters he stole from a Burger King restaurant after strangling manager Mary Hutchinson, Lake County prosecutors said. Investigators days later discovered $40 in dimes and $70 in quarters stuffed in a pillowcase in Ealy’s apartment — amounts matching those taken from the Lindenhurst restaurant during the Nov. 27, 2006 robbery.

Chief Keef arrested in Georgia hotel after staff smells marijuana

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:55:21 -0500

Chicago rapper Chief Keef makes no secret of his fondness for marijuana. The staff at the swanky Le Meridien Atlanta Perimeter hotel doesn’t share that fondness. Chief Keef, whose real name is Keith Cozart, was arrested for disorderly conduct, after security at the hotel “observed smoke and a smell of marijuana from a room,” according to police in Dunwoody, Ga..

Second man sentenced in 2010 South Side murder

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:12:00 -0500

The second of two men accused in a fatal shooting on a South Side porch in 2010 was sentenced to prison Monday. Judge James Linn sentenced Cordero Amos, 25, to 40 years in prison, according to a statement from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office. A jury convicted Amos of first-degree murder in March.

18-year sentence for crooked Chicago cop

Tue, 21 May 2013 02:16:01 -0500

A crooked Chicago cop who teamed up with a violent crew of kidnapping drug dealers was sentenced to 18 years behind bars Monday. Relieved he’d dodged a potential life sentence, Glenn Lewellen, 57, smiled and gave relatives a thumbs-up after Judge Joan Gottschall sentenced him in federal court. He helped drug dealer and paid police informant Saul Rodriguez and his crew avoid capture for years, tipping them off about police operations and a federal wiretap. Evidence at his trial last year showed he also helped them kidnap their rivals in shake downs and robberies that netted 250 kilos of cocaine …

$19.6 million settlement reached in abuse lawsuit against former priest

Tue, 21 May 2013 02:16:34 -0500

Jesuit officials in Chicago will pay $19.6 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought by six men who claim they were molested by Donald McGuire, a former priest and onetime spiritual adviser to Mother Teresa, an attorney for the plaintiffs said Monday.

Neighbor’s dog seriously injures 9-year-old boy: police

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:40:01 -0500

The boy was playing in his yard in the 200 block of West 112th Place about 8 p.m. when the attack occurred, Chicago Police said. A nephew of the dog owner was able to pull the animal off the boy, who was later hospitalized with bites to his arms and legs, authorities said.

Man shot in the head on South Side dies

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:47:33 -0500

A man who was gravely wounded in a shooting on the Near South Side Monday night has died.

Vandals graffiti walls, pull up pews and smash organ at Southeast Side church

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:07:09 -0500

A deacon preparing for a Saturday service made the discovery. Gang symbols and other graffiti were found on the walls, floors and pews, several of which were pulled from their mounts, Estrada said. An antique organ was also smashed and keys pulled from the instrument.