Police Blotter Oct. 25: Evanston Man Runs Red Lights in Stolen Car; Phony Checks Lead to Bank Arrest

The following items are taken from the Evanston Police Department. In all incidents where an arrest occurred, a charge is merely an accusation and not evidence of guilt. The arrested person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Forgery

A Chicago man was arrested after police said he tried to use two phony checks to open a bank account at Fifth-Third Bank on the 2400 block of Main Street. James D. McGee, 47, was charged with forgery. Police said an initial background track conducted by Fifth Third revealed past account irregularities with both TCF Bank and Chase. A call to those banks allegedly determined the checks were phony. A court date for McGee is set for Nov. 9.

Theft

An Evanston man was arrested after police said he ran two red lights while driving around in a stolen car early Monday morning. Marcus A. Austin, 23, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol. Police said he told them he had been rummaging through cars looking for loose change on the 2300 block of Green Bay Road at 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, when he found a dark blue 2008 Volvo XL9 with the keys laying in the cupholder. Austin allegedly told police he drove off with the SUV. Roughly 24 hours later, police said they observed him run a red light at Ridge Avenue and Oakton Street. They ran the plates and saw that the SUV had been reported stolen. They later saw Austin run a red light at Main Street and Asbury Avenue before stopping him at the Shell station on the 8400 block of McCormick Boulevard in Skokie. A court date for Austin is set for Nov. 17.

A fraudulent cashier's cheque was used to steal a 2003 BMW at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday on the 800 block of Noyes Street. The suspect is a black man about 6-foot and 200 pounds.

An Apple iPad tablet computer was stolen from an unlocked office between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Monday on the 1600 block of Foster Street.

A locked black Nirve hybrid bicycle was reported stolen from a rack on the 1800 block of Central Street at 9:10 p.m. on Monday.

Burglary

A burglar stole cash out of an unlocked residential garage between 6 p.m. on Sunday and 10:23 a.m. on Monday on the 800 block of Grey Avenue.

A burglar stole cash and compact discs from an unlocked car parked in an alley of the 1100 block of Grant Street between 8 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. on Sunday.

Someone broke into a 2002 Dodge between 8 p.m. on Sunday and 11 a.m. on Monday on the 2600 block of Bennett Avenue, but nothing was taken.

Vandalism

A peep hole to an apartment door was melted between 7 a.m. and 8:40 p.m. on Monday on the 900 block of Hinman Avenue.

Someone threw a large rock through the window of a 2005 Volkswagen between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Monday on the 600 block of Main Street.

A man reportedly keyed the side of a 1995 Ford between 10 p.m. on Sunday and 3:50 p.m. on Monday on the 2100 block of Dewey Avenue.

A woman reportedly sprayed graffiti on the side of a house on the 1800 block of Laurel Avenue sometime between Oct. 10 and Sunday. The suspect is a black woman about 5-foot-7 and 180 pounds.

A garage was tagged with graffiti on Sunday or Monday on the 1100 block of Sherman Avenue.

Domestic Battery

A 34-year-old Evanston man was arrested and charged with domestic battery at 8:38 p.m. on Saturday on the 1800 block of Monroe Street. His court date is set for Nov. 16.

An 18-year-old Evanston man was arrested and charged with domestic battery at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday at the Evanston Police Station. His court date is set for Nov. 16.