Police Blotter: DUI, Damage to Property and Bad Checks

FRIDAY, MAY 25 

Boyfriend Problems

Police charged John D. Gillespie, 32, of the 11000 block of Roberts Street, Mokena, with criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct after officers responded to a disturbance at the home he shares with his girlfriend.

According to the police report, Gillespie's girlfriend called police because he has threatened to damage property at their home and then threatened to kill her over the telephone. When police arrived, Gillespie told officers he had two beers from a nearby gas station, but was unsure how the screening of a window and the sliding door to their apartment was damaged.

Due to the damage to the property and the reported threat, police took Gillespie into custody. He was processed at the Mokena Police Department, where he was released on bond and issued a July 10 court date.

THURSDAY, MAY 24

Bad Checks, Bad Times

Michael J. Strilich, 60, of the 100 block of Church Street in Frankfort, was charged with deceptive practices and theft under $500 following a complaint he was cashing bad checks at First National Bank, 19860 S. La Grange Road in Mokena.

Strilich had reportedly cashed two checks at the bank, which was then notified that accounts the checks were drawing from were frozen, according to reports. The bank's manager notified police when Strilich tried to cash a check from the account at 2 p.m. that day. Police stopped Strilich at the bank's driveup window, where he told them he knew he was drawing on frozen bank accounts..

He was taken to the Mokena Police Department, charged and released on bond. He was given a July 18 court date.

SUNDAY, MAY 20

Median DUI on 191st St.

Police charged Mark J. Kolar, 47, of the 13000 block of S. 84th Avenue, Orland Park, for driving under the influence of alcohol, improper lane usage/median violation, and BAC in excess of .08.

Officers reported seeing Kolar cross the double yellow line near train tracks in the 10000 block of W. 191st Street. Officers witnessed the car drive up the median, before officers initiated a traffic stop. When asked why he was driving on the median Kolar told police, “I don't know what I was thinking.”

Officers detected a strong odor of alcohol on Kolar's breath and asked if he would submit to standard field sobriety tests, which he did and failed.

Kolar was taken to the Mokena Police Department, where he blew a .186 and was charged. He posted bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 5.  

Police report information is provided by . Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.