Crime & Safety

Facebook Status Update Ends with Bloody Battery: Police Blotter

Chicago Heights police reports, Feb. 18.

MONDAY, FEB. 18

The Power of Facebook

Gerry Branigan, 19, of the 16900 block of Magnolia Drive in University Park, was arrested and charged with battery after his former friend was found bleeding from his nose and mouth, according to the report. The ex-friend put up a Facebook post stating "I hate phony and fraudulent people," which Branigan saw and assumed was about him, according to the report. The former friend told Branigan it was not about him, and Branigan responded with punches to the face and head, according to the report. Branigan, who had left the scene, contacted police and said he had been battered. He then went to the Chicago Heights Police Department and spoke with police before being taken into custody, according to the report. The ex-friend refused all medical treatment for his injuries.

DUI

Anneice E. Carpenter, 53, of the first block of Dennell Drive in Crete, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after police stopped her near the intersection of Chicago Road and 21st Street for swerving, according to the report. Carpenter told police she did not stay in her lane because she was eating "skins," according to the report. Asked to perform sobriety tests, Carpenter told police she could not do a one-leg stand because she has arthritis in both knees. Carpenter did take a Breathalyzer test and registered a alcohol concentration level of .104, police said. Police then discovered a bottle of vodka on the floor next to the driver's seat in Carpenter's vehicle, according to the report. Carpenter racked up additional charges of illegal transportation of alcohol, one tail light and having an alcohol concentration level of .08 or more, police said.

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No Yelling

Harold S. Sledge, 53, who is homeless, was arrested and charged with trespassing after he entered Greater Faith Baptist Church, located on Emerald Avenue, screaming profanities, according to the report. The pastor at the church told Sledge there is a zero tolerance policy there and asked him to leave. Sledge refused and continued to yell, according to the report. Police arrived and took him into custody.

Public Intoxication

Ricky D. Sales, 48, of 700 block of Grant, was arrested and charged with public intoxication after police saw him standing near the parking garage at St. James Hospital drinking a can of beer. When police approached Sales, he started to walk away while consuming the rest of his beer, according to the report. He then threw the can in a garbage container, police said. 

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Police report information is provided by the Chicago Heights 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.


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