Southland crime: Attempted murder in Palos Hills and burglary in Mokena

Violent Altercations and Property Crime Across the Southland

From attempted murder charges in Palos Hills to a coordinated smash-and-grab at a Mokena pub, law enforcement across the Southland has been busy managing a spike in high-stakes criminal activity. These incidents, documented in recent police reports and court filings, show a persistent challenge for suburban municipalities dealing with everything from aggravated assault to sophisticated identity theft.

In Palos Hills, 26-year-old Dylan Montano remains in the Cook County Jail following his October 24 arrest. Authorities have charged him with attempted murder after he allegedly struck a person with a baseball bat during a violent altercation in the 10700 block of Roberts Road. Montano is slated to appear in the Cook County court at Bridgeview on November 20 to face these serious charges.

The Rise of Coordinated Commercial Burglary

In Mokena, the Post Game Pub on Willow Lane fell victim to a sophisticated burglary early on October 27. According to police, a masked individual shattered a window to gain entry, then held the front door open for a crew of eight other masked suspects armed with sledgehammers and crowbars. The group systematically damaged four video slot machines, successfully extracting cash from one before fleeing. This incident mirrors a similar break-in reported earlier that same morning at Two Mikes Tavern, located at 8504 Cicero Ave. In that case, three video slot machines were damaged and a cash box was stolen, with the perpetrators utilizing a shattered front window for both ingress and egress.

Police Discover Weapons in Crash Vehicle

In Evergreen Park, officers investigating a vehicle-house crash on September 19 in the 10100 block of Harnew Road discovered a cache of weapons in a vehicle belonging to Cristian Alvarez, 36, of Justice. Police recovered two 9 mm pistols—one loaded—along with 20 loose .357 caliber bullets. Alvarez, whose gun permit had expired, was subsequently charged with two felony counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, along with misdemeanor counts of drunken driving and unlawful possession of ammunition. On September 20, a driver and passenger reported a harrowing encounter near 87th Street and State Road. After being sideswiped by a vehicle with heavily tinted windows, the victims were pursued for several blocks. When they eventually pulled up alongside the other car, the driver allegedly brandished a handgun.

Southland crime: Attempted murder in Palos Hills and burglary in Mokena

Man Arrested for Fraudulent Loan Attempt

In Orland Park, Nicholas Arvanitis, 30, of Moline, was arrested September 18 after allegedly attempting to secure a $10,000 home equity line of credit using fraudulent identification at a local credit union. He faces charges of identity theft, forgery, and resisting arrest. John F. Hammond, 62, was charged October 7 with violating the Sex Offender Registration Act after police discovered he had vacated his registered address. Similarly, James M. Gardner, 54, of Calumet Park, was charged October 13 for falsely registering an address that, upon investigation, proved to be a violation of state law prohibiting sex offenders from living in proximity to schools.

Drivers Arrested for Excessive Speeding

In Chicago Ridge, Shodmon Salomov, 24, was arrested October 19 for traveling 74 mph in a 30 mph zone on Ridgeland Avenue. A similar incident occurred in Oak Lawn on September 14, where Mohammed M. Ashkar, 20, of Alsip, was clocked at 66 mph in a 30 mph zone on Central Avenue. These incidents, ranging from physical altercations in nursing facilities—such as the October 6 incident in New Lenox where a patient struck a nurse—to ongoing retail theft cases involving suspects like Matthew T. Kerouac of Orland Park, illustrate the diverse scope of public safety duties.