Daughter of Chicago Heights Mayor Arrested in Homewood

Homewood police arrested 20-year-old Monica Gonzalez and two other men  following reports of loud music and “girls hollering,” according to police.

Gonzalez faces charges of battery and possession of drug paraphernalia, after allegedly resisting arrest, kicking an officer on the scene and the discovery of a glass pipe in her purse.

Police were called to an apartment on the 800 block of Elder Road shortly after 11 p.m. Nov. 23. From outside the apartment, officers said they could hear loud music and people talking loudly. Officers also smelled marijuana from behind the front door, according to the report.

Police say the volume in the room dropped after they knocked on the door. While waiting for the homeowner to open the door, an officer reported hearing what could have been a glass door sliding—perhaps as people left the apartment.

After a short delay, the homeowner allowed police inside, where they found 14.5 grams of marijuana in a glass mason jar sitting on the kitchen counter. Brandon Peterson, 19, told officers the marijuana belonged to him. Peterson was taken into custody.

Police attempted to pat down Gonzalez, who was also in the room, but she “became hysterical, pulling away from (the officer) and holding on to her purse, not letting him conduct his investigation.”

Officers attempted to grab Gonzalez’s purse numerous times, but she resisted, according to the report. After several requests, Ronald Dixon-Moore, 19, stepped in between the officer and Gonzalez “in order to keep him from grabbing her purse and conduct (sic) a search of her.” He was immediately arrested for doing so. 

With Dixon-Moore out of the way, the officer finally grabbed hold of Gonzalez’s purse. Gonzalez then allegedly “picked up her leg and kicked (the officer) in the chest stating, ‘You stay away from me!’” Police say they attempted to restrain Gonzalez, but she “continued to flail her arms and pull away.”

Police finally handcuffed Gonzalez, but she escaped their grasp and attempted to run back into the apartment. Gonzalez was seized again, and she continued to struggle with officers, refusing to get into the squad, according to police. Officers forcibly placed her inside the vehicle for transport to the Homewood Police Station, along with Peterson and Dixon-Moore.

At the station, Gonzalez “refused to comply with a custodial property inventory and had to have her shoes forcibly removed.” After initially refusing a mug shot and fingerprinting, Gonzalez eventually complied with police and the arrest process was completed.

Police were then able to search the purse, where they found a glass pipe with marijuana residue on it.

• Peterson, of the 18500 block of Stedhall, was charged with possession of marijuana.
• Dixon-Moore, of the 18700 block of Carson Drive was charged with obstructing an officer.
• Gonzalez was charged with resisting arrest, battery and possession of drug paraphernalia.

In response to his daughter's actions, Chicago Heights Mayor David Gonzales issued a statement to Patch:

As parents, my wife and I were saddened to hear of the charges filed against our daughter. While I haven't been informed of all facts associated with the charges, the allegations are certainly inconsistent with the behavior my wife and I have tried to instill in all of our children.

Nevertheless, at 20 years of age, Monica is an adult. She is responsible for her own actions. 

... as this incident in no way involves my official duties as Mayor of Chicago Heights and that it occurred outside the jurisdiction of Chicago Heights, we intend to treat it as a private family matter.

Police report information is provided by the Homewood Police Department and other law enforcement agencies. Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions 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.