SHERIFF’S STING NETS WOULD-BE
DRUG BUYERS
Friday, August 28, 2009 — More than 20 people were arrested in a suburban sting operation after they attempted to purchase drugs from undercover Cook County Sheriff’s Police officers.
Among those arrested this week was a 41-year-old Oak Forest woman who asked the officer to give her a “good deal” on crack cocaine, since she was using it for medicinal purposes to help alleviate pain associated with her cancer.
Police set up a “reverse sting” at two locations in Robbins – at 13921 S. Grace St.(map) and 13500 S. Woodlawn St. - – each on Cook County public housing project property.
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Residents in those areas had complained to police about rampant drug sales and gang activity in the neighborhood, Sheriff Thomas J. Dart said.
In the days leading up to the sting, sheriff’s police had enacted a “zero tolerance” policy in the area, arresting numerous people who neighbors say regularly engage in questionable activity on those street corners. With the corners cleared, undercover officers began posing as drug dealers there on Wednesday night, offering buyers either baggies of oregano or crumbled white chunks instead of marijuana or crack, respectively.
As buyers approached the undercover officers and cash transactions took place through a car window, nearby sheriff’s police officers would wait for a signal and then pull the car over around the block, outside of the view of any incoming buyers.
Fifteen people were charged with attempted possession of drugs – including Kimberly Edelen, 41, of Oak Forest, who claimed to be a cancer patient in need of crack to help her illness. Three others were arrested for actually possessing drugs. Two were arrested for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, with one was arrested for obstruction of justice and another on an outstanding warrant. Police also recovered two loaded 9mm semi-automatic handguns in the sweep.
Arrested in the sting were:
Arrested on Grace St.:
Leandre D. Nutull, 23, of Robbins, outstanding warrant for drug possession
William Wylie III, 26, of Peoria, possession of cannabis
Christopher Caston, 38, of Robbins, obstruction of justice
Gilbert Vega, 29, of East Chicago, Ind., possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia
Deandre Harris, 23, of Robbins, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon
Dominque Buchanan, 21, of Blue Island, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated resisting arrest
Jerome Jackson, 50, of Robbins, possession of cannabis
Cory Flowers, 32, of Hazel Crest, attempted possession of cannabis
Keith Davis, 44, of Markham, attempted possession of cannabis
Joseph Burden, 58, of Robbins, attempted possession of cocaine
Jason Anderson, 28, of Joliet, attempted possession of cocaine
Johnny L. Williams, 41, of Alsip, attempted possession of cocaine
Lyndon G Wesley, 25, of Markham, attempted possession of cannabis
Linda Hill, 45, of Blue Island, attempted possession of cannabis
Lamar Costello, 38, of Country Club Hills, attempted possession of cocaine
Arrested on Woodlawn St.:
Kenneth Babich, 22, of Crestwood, attempted possession of cocaine
James Domina, 48, of Oak Lawn, attempted possession of cocaine
Ticelyn Sallis, 26, of Orland Hills, attempted possession of cannabis
Kimberly Edelen, 41, of Oak Forest, attempted possession of cocaine
Jennifer Laidlaw, 43, of Tinley Park, attempted possession of cocaine
George Mampreian, 31, of Tinley Park, attempted possession of cocaine
Melita Malone, 28, of Robbins, attempted possession of cannabis
Evelyn Emmons, 27, of Chicago, attempted possession of cocaine
