Palos Heights Police Blotter: Theft at Manor Care West, Loaded Gun Found During Traffic Stop

Theft at Manor Care West: Police are investigating the disappearance of cash from a patient's room at Manor Care West nursing home located at 11860 S. Southwest Highway. Sometime between 10 a.m. Aug. 5 and 8 p.m. Aug. 6, an unknown person removed cash from a patient's room.

Theft from a Parked Car: Between 9:30 p.m on Aug. 8 and 6 a.m. on Aug. 9 several items were removed from an unlocked car parked in the driveway on the 12900 block of 70th Court.

DUI: Fernando M. Diaz, 20, of Palos Hills was stopped for improper lane usage by police on Aug. 11 at 11:44 p.m. at 1160 S. Southwest Highway. Once stopped, police investigation determined Diaz was driving under the influence of alcohol. Diaz later submitted to a breathalyzer test which showed a blood alcohol level over .08. He was charged with improper lane usage, driving under the influence of alcohol, blood alcohol level over .08 and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.

Driving with Suspended License: Officers responded to a report of a driver having a seizure in his car at Southwest Highway and Illinois Route 83 on Aug. 11 at 9:42 a.m.  The driver, Steven P. Witkus, 32, of Oak Lawn, was taken to the hospital. While securing the vehicle, it was discovered that Witkus' driving privileges were suspended. Witkus was charged with driving with a suspended license, driving an uninsured vehicle, improper use of registration and improper display of registration.

Driving Under the Influence of Drugs: Police officers responded to a traffic incident involving a possibly impaired driver on the 12700 block of Harlem Avenue on Aug. 12 at 10:09 a.m. During an interview with police on the scene, Gerald J. Forden, 34, of Oak Lawn appeared confused. Forden was then given a sobriety test, which he failed. Upon inspection of his car, police found drug paraphernalia. Forden was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, expired driver's license and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Weapons Found in Car During Traffic Stop: On Aug. 13 at 2:30 a.m., police officers stopped a car for crossing the white lane divider at 13100 S. Harlem Avenue. Officers were given permission to search the car. Police officers found a loaded semi-automatic handgun behind the driver's seat, a stun gun, brass knuckles and a blackjack.  Nathan D. McGovern, 48, of Worth, Jacob L. McGovern, 34, of Hometown and Joseph Thomas, 45, of Lockort, were taken into custody without incident and charged with unlawful use of a weapon.