Palos Heights Police Blotter: Two Hit-and-Run Incidents, One Driver Sent to Hospital

MONDAY, AUG. 29

No Injuries in Hit-and-Run

Karen E. Walton, 48, of the 6000 block of 128th Street in Palos Heights, was charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident and failure to reduce speed to avoid accident. Police officers arrested Walton at her home around 1 p.m. after a witness provided a license plate number and told them that a car had struck another car from behind near 135th Street and Spyglass Circle and fled. No injuries were reported.

Stumbling Into the Law

Sean P. Geraghty, 19, of the 7300 block of Pueblo Lane in Palos Heights, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Police said they spoke with Geraghty in front of his home around 11:45 p.m., after watching him stumble off the street, and they smelled burnt marijuana. During a search of his clothing, police found a glass smoking pipe with residual marijuana, according to the report.

SUNDAY, AUG. 28

College Drive DUI

Michael J. Libby, 34, of the 12500 block of Greenwood Avenue in Blue Island, was charged with driving under the influence and improper lane use. Police said they stopped Libby’s car in the 6800 block of College Drive at 1:43 a.m. for swerving into oncoming traffic. Libby was arrested after failing several field sobriety tests, according to the report.

SATURDAY, AUG. 27

In Plain View

A man and woman were arrested on drug-related charges after their car was stopped at a seatbelt enforcement checkpoint in the 12700 block of Harlem Avenue at 12:34 a.m. Megan Pinkston, 22, of the 5400 block of 137th Street in Crestwood, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and no seat belt. Roger Molenhouse, 22, of the 6500 block of 113th Street in Worth, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of cannabis and no seat belt. Police said they saw the paraphernalia in plain view during the stop.

Harlem Avenue DUI

Marco Panito, 25, of the 5700 block of 106th Street in Worth, was charged with DUI, no driver’s license and improper lane use. Police said they stopped Panito’s car in the 11800 block of Harlem Avenue at 3:57 a.m. for weaving within his lane. He was arrested after failing several field sobriety tests, according to the report.

FRIDAY, AUG. 26

Speeding, DUI

Mike P. DeMarchi, 31, of the 11500 block of Leamington Avenue in Alsip, was charged with DUI and speeding. Police said they stopped DeMarchi’s car in the 12100 block of Harlem Avenue at 12:12 a.m. for driving 60 in a 35 mph zone. He failed a breathalyzer exam, according to the report.

Zero Tolerance

Alen M. Leonhardt, 20, of the 14000 block of Churchill Drive in Homer Glen, was charged with illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor and speeding. Police said they stopped Leohardt’s car in the 13100 block of Harlem Avenue at 2:11 a.m. for driving 57 in 35 mph zone.

THURSDAY, AUG. 25

Hit-and-Run Sends One to Hospital

Jessica L. Zapata, 17, of the 8000 block of Mulligan Avenue in Burbank, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, no valid driver’s license and failure to reduce speed to avoid accident. Police said Zapata rear-ended another car in the 12200 block of Ridgeland Avenue around 7:30 a.m., sending the driver of the car to the hospital for examination, and Zapata fled the scene. Zapata was stopped 11 blocks north, police said.

MONDAY, AUG. 22

Caught Smoking

Thomas J. Hoffman, 20, of the 12600 block of Major Avenue in Palos Heights, was charged with possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police said they saw Hoffman smoking marijuana in a car parked in the 6500 block of 127th Street at 12:14 a.m.

SUNDAY, AUG. 21

Driving in Wrong Lane

Brittany L. Arrington, 22, of the 3500 block of Saint Joseph Place in Hobart, Ind., was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and driving in the wrong traffic lane. When police officers stopped Arrington in the 6800 block of College Drive at 4:44 a.m., she said she was lost. Police said they found a pipe with residual marijuana inside her car.

127th Street DUI

Sylvester D. Bisaga, 23, of the 11100 block of Heritage Drive in Palos Heights, was charged with DUI and failure to wear a seat belt. Police said they stopped Bisaga’s car in the 12500 block of 127th Street at 6:27 p.m. for driving without a seat belt. He was arrested after failing field sobriety tests, police said.

THURSDAY, AUG. 18

80th Avenue DUI

William L. Katzenberger, 51, of the 10600 block of Northbridge Drive in Huntley, was charged with DUI and improper lane usage. Police said they stopped Katzenberger’s car in the 13100 block of 80th Avenue at 12:33 a.m. for drifting between lanes. He was arrested after failing several field sobriety tests, police said.

Police report information is provided by . Charges are not evidence of guilt. They are a record of police actions taken on a given day, and persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If you or a family member are charged or cited and the case is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor. We will verify and report the outcome.