Free Rider on Amtrak Outruns Officers, Loaded Gun: Homewood Police Blotter

TUESDAY, JAN. 3

Free Ride, Fast Runner

A man in his early 20s was escorted off an Amtrak train for refusing to pay his ticket and then outran the police officers who offered to call a ride for him. Police described the man as black and about 5-foot, 7-inches tall, weighing 170 pounds. He was wearing dark jeans and a pinstripe black shirt when officers lost him inside Ravisloe Country Club. Officers had been planning to take the man’s prints for identification when he bolted, according to the report.

Homewood police do not release the name of persons charged with local municipal tickets.

MONDAY, JAN. 2

Domestic Battery

Adrienne Johnson, 46, of the 18800 block of Morgan Street in Homewood, was charged with domestic battery. Police said Johnson threw a plastic toy at another woman inside her home—hitting her lip and causing a “deep laceration”—during an argument. Johnson was arrested after a witness backed up the victim’s version of events, according to the report.

Loaded Gun Found During Traffic Stop

Kyle Watkins, 20, of the 100 block of South Mayfair Place in Chicago Heights, was charged with possession of firearm without FOID, possession of firearm ammunition without FOID and improper lane usage. Police said they found a loaded .25 caliber handgun and bullets in the trunk of Watkins’ car, which was stopped in the 900 block of Ridge Road around 10:30 p.m. for crossing the lane divider.

A passenger, Aaron Gilbert, 25, of the 100 block of Constance Avenue in Chicago Heights, was arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Cook County for driving while license suspended.

SUNDAY, JAN. 1

Retail Theft, Warrant

Margaret Ponce, 43, of the 17900 block of Riedle Court in Homewood, was charged with retail theft. Security told police that a woman later identified as Ponce left a store in the 17500 block of Halsted Street around 6 p.m. without paying for clothing totaling $114. A background check revealed an outstanding warrant out of Jo Daviess County for unlawful delivery of cannabis, according to the report.

Police report information is provided by the  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 . We will verify and report the outcome.