6 • Thursday, April 3, 2025 - The Elmhurst Independent
Police beat
The Elmhurst Police Department recently reported the following arrests and citations. Persons charged with domestic battery are not named in order to protect the privacy of victims. Readers are reminded that an arrest does not constitute a conviction, and that subjects are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Juveniles age 17 or younger are not named.
Sentencing stemmed from Elmhurst Police Department investigation
Battery March 21 A victim in the 600 block of W. Crockett reported at 1:11 a.m. that a suspect battered him after a verbal altercation. Both subjects denied medical attention and agreed to separate for the night. Due to no injuries and conflicting statements, no arrests were made
Domestic battery, disorderly conduct, domestic issue March 25 A 68-year-old Belvidere woman was charged with domestic battery in the 500 block of N. Indiana at 12:33 p.m. Police said the suspect admitted to striking the victim after a verbal argument.
DUI, consumption of alcohol by a minor, illegal possession of alcohol March 24 Blake Cassidy, 33, was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident in the 300 block of N. Route 83 at 1:59 p.m. Cassidy was placed under arrest after he was reportedly involved in a traffic crash. March 22 Roberto Roman Miranda, 39, of Maywood, was charged with DUI, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, driving without a valid license, driving with suspended registration and no insurance near S. Route 83 and the Canadian National Railroad tracks at 4:50 p.m. March 21 Humberto Muniz, 60, of Cicero, was charged with DUI and no insurance in the 500 block of N. Willow at 8:32 p.m. Pedro Romero Flores, 24, of Chicago, was charged with DUI, illegal stopping in a roadway and no insurance in the 100 block of E. Brush Hill at 4:40 a.m. March 20 Lisandro Lopez-Fabien, 32, of Bensenville, was charged with aggravated DUI, DUI, obstructing identification, driving with a revoked license, possession of open alcohol by a driver and no insurance near York and Grand at 6:58 p.m. Police reportedly located Lopez-Fabien after she fled the scene of a traffic crash. Police said Lopez-Fabien also was found to have a failure-to-appear warrant out of Cook County. Fleeing, eluding According to information provided by the Elmhurst Police Department, police reported two incidents of fleeing and eluding during which a driver fled the scene after being stopped for a traffic stop by police. March 20 Vincent E. Kehoe, 20, of Bensenville, was charged with fleeing to elude a police officer
Former Glendale Heights attorney sentenced to six years for using girlfriend’s personal identifying information to defraud banks out of more than $82,000
CALL 800-222-TIPS and improper parking on the roadway near Grand and Old Grand at 1:19 p.m. Police said that subsequent to the call of a driver sleeping behind the wheel of a vehicle, officers made contact with the sleeping suspect, who then fled the scene.
Identity theft, fraud
According to information provided by the Elmhurst Police Department, police reported five incidents of identity theft or fraud.
Possession of cannabis in a vehicle
According to information provided by the Elmhurst Police Department, police reported one incident of possession of cannabis by either the driver of a vehicle or a passenger: Tremayne D. Cherry, 34, of Joliet, near Riverside and Monroe at 5:45 p.m. March 26.
Suspicious incident
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced last week that a former Glendale Heights attorney had Leonard been sentenced DeFranco to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for using his girlfriend’s personal identifying information to defraud banks out of more than $82,000 over an approximately 18-month period. The subject reportedly stole a total of more than $845,000 from 12 victims, including his girlfriend. Leonard DeFranco, 71, appeared at his sentencing hearing on Friday, March 28, in front of Judge Mia McPherson, who handed down the sentence. DeFranco’s sentence stemmed from an investigation by the Elmhurst Police Department. Berlin noted the work of Elmhurst Detective Jeff Kucera in that investigation. DeFranco appeared in bond court more than six years ago, on Dec. 15, 2018, where bond was set at $10,000 with 10
March 26 While on patrol near Roosevelt and York at 9:45 a.m., an officer observed a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of DuPage County. The officer made contact the driver/ owner of the vehicle, who related that after reporting his vehicle stolen, Chicago police advised his vehicle had been impounded. He retrieved his vehicle and advised the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, but the vehicle was never removed from LEADS. DuPage County was advised of the incident, and the vehicle DuPage County State’s was removed from LEADS. Attorney Robert Berlin announced last week that March 23 Judge Jeffrey MacKay A complainant in the 600 block of N. York granted the state’s motion reported at 7:01 p.m. that an unknown suspect to deny pre-trial release for approached her and offered to fix a dent in her a Chicago man accused of vehicle. The complainant further related she leading police on a highhad no damage to her vehicle and wanted the speed chase. incident documented. Kevin Culps, 28, appeared in First Appearance Court and was charged with one Theft, retail theft, count of aggravated fleeing and eluding (a Class 4 burglary, attempted felony) and multiple misand petty traffic theft or burglary, forgery, demeanor offenses including driving while license revoked and deceptive practice, obstructing identification.
percent to apply, in accordance with a previously issued arrest warrant. He posted the necessary 10 percent, or $1,000, the same day and was released pending trial. On May 31, 2024, DeFranco entered a blind plea of guilty to one count of identity theft–more than $10,000 but less than $100,000, a Class 1 felony. DeFranco was charged with 13 counts of identity theft, 26 counts of forgery, four counts of financial institution fraud, one count of continuing a financial crimes enterprise and two counts of obstruction of justice, all felonies ranging from Class 1 to Class 4. Last week’s sentence stems from allegations that between Dec. 2, 2015, and June 8, 2017, DeFranco, without authorization, used the personal identifying information of his thengirlfriend to obtain four loans totaling $82,700. DeFranco’s scheme was uncovered when the victim ran her credit report and discovered the loans. Once she uncovered the fraudulent loans, she contacted law enforcement and the financial institutions that provided the loans. Following an investigation into the thefts, authorities learned that in one
instance, DeFranco used his victim’s personal identifying information to secure a loan in her name for the purchase of a $43,500 Audi A8. At the sentencing hearing, the state proved in aggravation that DeFranco, through various schemes, had stolen a total of $845,831.58 from a dozen victims, including his former girlfriend, five individuals and six financial institutions. “White collar financial crimes always leave a paper trail,” Berlin said. “This afternoon, Mr. DeFranco learned that the paper trail in this case is leading him to a six-year sentence in the penitentiary. His scheming and deception brought dishonor to the legal profession and a slap in the face to his former girlfriend, to whom he undoubtedly caused a financial hardship. I thank the Elmhurst Police Department, particularly Detective Jeff Kucera, for their outstanding work on this complicated case. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Ken Tatarelis and Diane Michalak for their efforts in unraveling Mr. DeFranco’s criminal behavior.” The Illinois Registration and Disciplinary Commission disbarred DeFranco, effective March 19, 2024.
On March 21 at approximately 2:18 a.m., Culps allegedly fled from officers after being pulled over for a suspended registration in Downers Grove. It is alleged that Culps ultimately made his way to I-88, where officers with the Oak Brook Police Department began pursuing him. It is further alleged that on I-88 Culps reached speeds of approximately 113 mph near I-88 and Meyers Road. It is alleged that Culps entered eastbound I-290, where officers with the Berkeley Police Department successfully
spike stripped his vehicle. It is further alleged that Culps exited the vehicle and, in his attempt to flee, jumped down a 20-foot wall into trees. He was taken into custody following a brief foot pursuit by officers with the Berkeley Police Department. When processing the scene, officers recovered a firearm along Culps’ path of flight. The firearm has been sent to the DuPage County Crime Lab for DNA analysis. Culps’ next court appearance is scheduled for April 14 in front of Judge Daniel Guerin.
Chicago man accused of leading police on a 113 mph high-speed chase
obstruction, robbery
March 22 Police said officers responded to the 600 block of W. Crockett at 11:35 p.m. for the report of a residential burglary. March 21 Victor F. Calzadilla Rojas, 25, and Javier Colmenarez, 24, both of Chicago, were charged with retail theft at a store in the 300 block of S. Route 83 at 3:51 p.m. Police said responding officers located the two suspects, who had exited the store with stolen merchandise.
Police arrest a subject in the vicinity of East End Park Male subject reportedly ran from a stolen car early Saturday morning after issuing an alert
At 5 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, the Elmhurst Police Department issued an alert that police were searching for a suspect in the area of East End Park. A few hours later, police notified the public that the suspect had been located and arrested.
According to the notification, police were searching for a suspect who ran from a stolen car in the vicinity of East End Park/East End Pool, 463 Schiller St. The stolen car stopped near North Avenue and I-290, and a male suspect was last seen running south into the
park area. Officers searched the area with a K9 and a drone. The subject was described as a white male in his 20s. At 8:30 a.m., the Elmhurst Police Department notified the public that officers had located an arrested the subject, and that the alert had been canceled.