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F O R E S T PA R K
REVIEW
Fire displaces two families PAGE 5
Residents honor RBG PAGE 11
SEPTEMBER 23, 2020
@FP_Review @ForestParkReview
Family hires legal counsel after arrested man dies Death occurred at Rush Oak Park day after arrest; autopsy still pending By MARIA MAXHAM Editor
The family of Dajuan Gates, 27, a Chicago man who died while he may have been in custody of the Forest Park Police Department, has hired attorney Philip Terrazzino of the Chicago law firm Tomasik, Kotin, Kasserman, LLC. The services of attorney S. Lee Merritt from the firm McEldrew, Young, Purtell, Merritt has also been retained. Gates died on Aug. 23 in the hospital, autopsy results still pending, after he ran a stop sign in Forest Park and police attempted to stop him. He ran another stop sign, then vacated the car and fled on foot into Oak Park, where he was stopped by Oak Park police, who turned him over to Forest Park police at the corner of Madison Street and Maple Avenue. Terrazzino told the Review that no lawsuit has been filed, and right now the firm is investigating evidence, including video, to put together a timeline of the events that led to Gates’ death. “The one thing we know is he died in police custody,” Terrazzino said on Sept. 16. “We’re in the investigation phase right now.” The Illinois State Police Integrity Task Force’s statement on Sept. 17 contests this. Trooper Genelle Jones, public information officer for the Illinois State Police, which is investigating the matter, said it has been determined that “while being detained by the Forest Park Police Department” Gates “suffered from a mediSee DAJUAN GATES on page 7
SHANEL ROMAIN/Contributing Photographer
HAPPY CAMPING
Quentin Airato, 3, bursts bubbles at the Park District of Forest Park’s annual camping event in the softball fields on Sept. 19.
Dinner in a bubble? Local restaurants consider cold-weather outdoor dining options By MARIA MAXHAM Editor
With colder weather coming, restaurants and bars that have relied on outdoor seating to accommodate cus-
IN Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 THIS Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 ISSUE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
tomers during COVID-19 capacity restrictions are worried about what the winter will bring. Some establishments don’t plan to invest in outdoor tents or heaters, which can be costly, and places that haven’t used them before have no guarantee that they’ll work well into the winter. But creative solutions are springing up. Charlie’s, 7427 Roosevelt Rd., is planning arguably the most unique local solution to outdoor dining in the cold:
a clear plastic “bubble” that fits a table for up to 10 customers. Termed “igloos” and “quarantine bubbles” by food reporters, these bubbles have ventilation and, said Maria Philippou, daughter of owner Charlie Philippou, will be completely sanitized between uses. Philippou said Charlie’s will start with one, which should arrive by early October. If it’s successful, they might order more. Reservations will See COLD-WEATHER DINING on page
Bookstore celebrates 30 years
Massage parlor rebuilding after COVID
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