Patch Roundup: Ex-Boyfriend Admits to Poisoning Dog; Polite Nude Sleepwalker Confronts Neighbor

Here are some of the top stories from the past week in Patch's south suburban region:

Palos—PETA Urges Palos Hills to Pull the Plug on the Circus—The animal welfare organization is requesting Palos Hills drop sponsorship of the upcoming Carson and Barnes Circus following numerous reports of elephant beatings.

Homewood-Flossmoor—Good Samaritan Swindled by Stranger in Big Lots Store—A Chicago Heights man believes he was conned out of $70 but a stranger with a sad story to tell inside the Homewood Big Lots store.

Oak Lawn—Ex-Boyfriend Admits to Poisoning Dog—The dog, a female American Staffordshire, became sick on June 12, the woman told police.

Orland Park—‘Dumb’ Gal ‘Stupidly’ Hung With Ex-Con But No Crook: Lawyer—A Granite City woman got mixed up with a prison pen pal and was dragged into an Orland Park carjacking, her attorney said.

Tinley Park—Polite Nude Sleepwalker Confronted by Neighbor—A neighbor confronted a man who walked into his Tinley Park apartment completely naked in July and startled a woman, police said.

Chicago Heights—Lincoln Mall Operations Handed to Receiver—The decrepit Matteson mall will stay open as a Chicago company takes care of "the most life-threatening conditions," according to the village of Matteson.  

Oak Forest—Oak Forest Woman Dies Days After Car Crash—A woman died in the hospital five days after she crashed her car in Crestwood.

Evergreen Park—Victim Tackled Accused Burglar Mid-Crime—The victim of a burglary and a couple of his friends held down the alleged burglar as they waited for cops to arrive, Evergreen Park police said.

Beverly-Mt. Greenwood—Boys Accused of Robbing, Breaking Pelvis of Woman Appear in Court—The boys, ages 14 and 15, were charged as juveniles with robbery, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm to a senior citizen, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, aggravated battery on the public way, and theft. 

Frankfort—Three L-Way Students Get Perfect Scores on ACT Test—Three Lincoln-Way High School District 210 students achieved the highest composite score possible on the ACT test.

Mokena—Joseph Messina Gets Probation in Mokena Coma Punch Case—Prosecutors were pushing to put New Lenox man Joseph Messina in prison for as long as 10 years.

New Lenox—Lockport High IT Guy Gets Probation For Sex With Student—A prosecutor didn't want to go along with a deal hammered out months before but eventually relented.