Another Motion for Mistrial

It seems pretty obvious that the prosecution is trying to throw the Drew Peterson case. How else do you explain this?

• The judge in the Drew Peterson murder trial held off on granting his attorneys’ request for a mistrial after prosecutors asked a witness about a bullet found in the man’s driveway.

  Peterson’s lawyers objected to the line of questioning, and prosecutors conceded they would not be able to prove any link between Peterson and the bullet.

  After hearing arguments from both sides and taking a break to mull the request, Will County Judge Edward Burmila returned to court and said he would not issue his ruling on the request without first giving defense attorneys the option of instead seeking to throw out all of the man’s testimony.

  After the two sides discussed it with Burmila, he ordered court adjourned until Thursday morning.

  Earlier, he called prosecutors’ tactics “a low blow” but said he is giving the defense a chance to strike Tom Pontarelli’s testimony.

You can't un-ring that bell. Jurors told to disregard someone's testimony in its entirety after they've already heard it? Not happening.

And for the prosecution to put this out there after having it disallowed by other courts? That's pretty close to criminal incompetence if not deliberate misconduct.

So what does Glasgow and Will County gain by throwing the case? The defense has the upper hand so far and they haven't even started to present their side.

Peterson Trial

The prosecution almost blew it during opening statements:

• Less than five minutes into the prosecution's opening statement, Peterson's legal team demanded a mistrial after State's Atty. James Glasgow told jurors that Peterson offered a co-worker $25,000.
  
  Defense attorneys cut Glasgow off before he could complete his sentence and, with the jury sent out of the courtroom, argued that prosecutors should not be allowed to mentioned Peterson's alleged attempt to hire a hit man to kill Savio since they never notified the defense that they planned to use such evidence.
  
  Judge Edward Burmila sustained the objection, prompting defense attorney Steve Greenberg to demand a mistrial.
  
  "We would ask for a mistrial because it's so prejudicial," he said. "I hate to bring it (the trial) to a screeching halt, but we've got a jury in the box and what are you supposed to say to them? That this was a big mistake?"

The Tribune says Stacy Peterson's family was pleased with how the first day went, but Peterson is on trial for the death of wife #3, Kathleen Savio, so Stacy's family has zero to do with any of this. Based on the coverage, the defense is poking so many holes in a circumstantial case, this thing wouldn't float in the empty bathtub Savio supposedly drowned in. But we'll see how it goes.

Joliet Shootings

Joliet PD getting busy lately:

• A 35-year-old Lockport man was transported this morning to a Joliet-area hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds received when he allegedly aimed his vehicle at Joliet police.
  
  The early morning shooting came less than 24 hours after Joliet Police shot a 29-year-old Crest Hill man who allegedly pointed a gun at them.
  
  The two men, who are former Joliet residents, were being kept under guard this morning at a Joliet-area hospital, according to prepared statements released today by Joliet Police. No police were injured and the wounds were termed "non-life-threatening." No police were injured.

That's always good to hear - no police injured.

To our suburban brothers, good luck and well done.

Crime is Down....

....but all we hear about is shootings shootings shootings. Even in the burbs, where they're getting knocked down 6 at a time:

• Six people were hospitalized after being injured in a shooting late Saturday night in west suburban Maywood, officials said.

  Police were called to a home in the 1900 block of South 19^th Avenue about 11:48 p.m. after receiving a report of a multiple people being shot at a gathering there, according to Larry Shapiro, spokesperson for the Village of Maywood.

Did anyone tell Mope-rah?

Hey Rahm? Who Raised This Kid?

Yeah, it's Evanston. But it's a legit question:

• A 13-year-old boy held a gun to the head of a cabdriver and stole $200 and a cellphone from him, Evanston police said Friday, announcing the boy’s arrest in that and another robbery this week.

  Wednesday about 1 a.m., the boy grabbed a cabdriver around the neck and robbed him at gunpoint in his taxi near Hovland Court and Emerson Street, said Police Cmdr. Jay Parrott. The boy stole cash and a cell phone from the driver, police said. No weapon has been recovered.

  Police said the boy also is accused of punching another juvenile in the face and stealing his headphones about 2:30 p.m. Monday near the corner of Church Street and Dodge Avenue.

  Authorities are pursuing robbery and aggravated assault citations against the boy in juvenile court, police said.

We're guessing it may be a single parent household to start....

Suburban Shooting

Officer is uninjured:

• A dispute between neighbors in south suburban Riverdale ended with police shooting a man fatally.

  Police say they got a call about a disturbance between neighbors at approximately 9 p.m. Saturday. According to police, an officer saw an armed individual shooting at another person and ordered the suspect to drop the gun. When he refused, police say the officer --fearing for his life -- shot the suspect.

  The man died Sunday at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

  Police say that shooting is under investigation.

It appears pretty straightforward and an excellent job by our suburban brethren. Well done Officer.

Got What He Deserved

We can't think of anyone who wouldn't have done the same thing:

• A Park Ridge police officer acted within reason when he beat a suspect who grabbed his groin and refused to let go, police commanders said.
  
  Frank Slowik, 44, of Westmont was arrested early Dec. 15 outside Dominick’s, 1900 S. Cumberland Ave., said Park Ridge Police Lt. Duane Mellema.
  
  Officers were called to the store at 3:20 a.m. for a report of a possible shoplifter and encountered a man, later identified as Slowik, running from a store employee.
  
  Mellema said one of the police officers ran after Slowik, grabbed him and wrestled him to the ground.
  
  As the officers tried to restrain him, Slowik grabbed a second officer’s groin and refused to let go, Mellema said. The officer then struck him several times in the face with his hand in an effort to get him to release his grip, Mellema said.

Of course, the Slum-Times headline says "Suspect Beaten..." completely obscuring the fact that the jagoff was an assailant, intent on causing lasting permanent harm to the officer. The picture is great though:

All things considered, he got off pretty lightly. Nice job Park Ridge.

Watch and Learn

Maybe Chicago can pick up a few pointers from the 'burbs here:

• Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl thinks anyone caught with 10 grams or less of pot does not intend to sell it, and so should only be ticketed and fined — not jailed.

  She recently asked the city’s legal department to draft an ordinance that loosens the penalty for anyone possessing small amounts of marijuana. Tisdahl said she wants to keep a young person’s criminal record from hindering employment.

  A city committee will study the proposed ordinance once staff drafts it, Tisdahl said.

The amount of time cops are off the street and the amount of time spent putting together a case that will be thrown out at a PC hearing, it might be time for a serious look at ticketing weed smokers.

Opinions?

Suburban Rumor

Anyone want to confirm this one?

• FYI for PO's living around Norridge
  ODPO has a M/1 threaten him, PO identifies himself and POS threatens again.... PO places offender into custody, calls 911.
  Norridge PD arrive, PO asks if they could transport to a CPD facility, they call for a sgt. Sgt arrives, talks to offender and then tells the PO if ODPO arrests him, he will also be arrested because now the offender said the ODPO 'assaulted' him. Norridge Sgt then releases offender before he could even get a CPD supervisor there.....
  Nicely done Norridge....

Seems out there, but still....?

Suburban Officer Cleared

We hadn't realized this shooting was even an issue:

• An investigation of an Arlington Heights officer who shot and killed a man during a stand-off last year has found no wrongdoing, according to records released by the Illinois State Police.
  
  
  
  Officer Michael Butler fired a shot through a window and hit Daniel Moreno just before midnight last August. Moreno died two days later.
  
  
  
  
• According to the 160-page state police report, officers heard shots coming from Moreno’s home and saw muzzle flashes. With a clear view of Moreno through the kitchen window, Butler shot him in the side of his head, the report said.
  
  
  
  In a letter to the Illinois State Police, Assistant State’s Attorney LuAnn Snow said the investigation “revealed no conduct by Officer Michael Butler . . .during this shooting that would give rise to criminal charges against that officer.”

We'd certainly hope not. Geez.

Suburban Assailant Killed

Some of our suburban brethren defending their lives kill a guy trying to murder them with a car:

• A Harvey man was shot and killed by police after he tried to run down an officer during a chase that began in Chicago Heights, authorities say.

  Mateo Meza-Cortez, 29, was shot around 2:50 a.m. Friday at 159th Street and Loomis Avenue in Harvey, according to Demetrius Cook, the police chief of Glenwood whose officers were involved in the chase.

  Meza-Cortez tried to run down a Glenwood officer with his car and the officer fired, Cook said. "The Glenwood police officer (was) in fear of his life," Cook said.

No cops were injured. Nicely done officers.

Suburban Tickets Down

Even the suburbs are feeling the pinch:

• Drivers in Oak Park are getting fewer tickets than they used to.
  
  
  
  While that is good news for many, it can be a problem for the village, which is expected to go through another extremely tight budget next year.
  
  
  
  The village collected about $434,000 less than expected in parking fines through the first six months of the year.
  
  
  
  There are a few theories on why this is the case. At a finance committee meeting last month, Village President David Pope said tough economic times may be causing people to be more cautious when parking to avoid tickets.
  
  
  
  The village's chief finance officer, Craig Lesner, suspects it has more to do with a decrease in enforcement.

We haven't heard any numbers coming out of City Hall lately about their parking enforcement numbers. We can't imagine Rahm wouldn't be using those as a club to beat the Department with if they were low. Hell, we can't imagine McJerseyShore/McStatmaster wouldn't be saving those numbers for another "Gotcha!" moment at the next CompStat meeting if he can.

More Mope-rah Material

Seeing as how this happened in her neck of the woods:

• A man who was allegedly pistol-whipping his wife was shot in the head during an exchange of gunfire with police early Sunday in Maywood.

  At 1:27 a.m., Maywood police officers responded to a call from a woman who reported that she had been pistol-whipped by her husband in their home in the 2000 block of South 11th Avenue, according to police.

  Officers began trying to negotiate with the suspect. Once inside the home, the 40-year-old man allegedly fired a shot at police, who returned fire, police said.

  “An officer was struck in the [bullet-resistant] vest and police returned fire,’’ said Police Chief Tim Curry.

More trigger-happy police no doubt - the epidemic has migrated to the suburbs. We can't believe that an officer getting shot (luckily in the vest) would necessitate return fire to defend himself and a woman being beaten with a gun. Can't wait for Mope-rah's column on this one.

Good job and wishing a speedy recovery to our suburban friends.

Section 8 in Winnetka?

OK, maybe not Section 8, but it's still funny to think about:

• Tucked between luxury estates off Sheridan Road near Lake Michigan, a Winnetka statue depicts a homeless man, head resting on hand, with this inscription: "No tenements for some and castles for others."

  Some have noted the irony in those words as an ugly debate has roiled over a village plan to introduce affordable housing in Winnetka, long a bastion of wealth and philanthropy.

  In the hamlet of 12,000, some residents have protested the plan, igniting fears of federally subsidized housing and government interference. Supporters argue that the proposal is hardly radical and would allow the village's police, teachers and shopkeepers to live and retire in Winnetka, where the median home price was $1.1 million last year.

• In a 25-page publication mailed to Winnetka residents last week, the homeowners association called the village Plan Commission's proposal un-American, predicting it will lower property values, attract criminals and force residents to subsidize those who rely on "hand-outs."

  Some supporters of the plan expressed shock at the rhetoric, with one resident writing to officials, "Aren't we better than this?"

Evidently, no. But it's fun to pretend.

Suburban Shooting

Good job by some of our suburban brethren:

• Responding to a 911 call about a suicidal man, two Naperville police officers shot and killed a man who came at them with a large knife early this morning, police said this afternoon.

  William Ladew, 47, of the 500 block of Lake Street in Aurora, refused an order to drop the knife, police said.

  The officers -- a police sergeant on the force for 19 years and a 10-year veteran officer -- have been placed on administrative leave per department policy, police said.

We roll out the dark humor whenever some deserving jagoff is rightfully shot by the police, but "suicide by police" is one of those things that ends up with the involved officers second guessing a lot of things. Hopefully, the officers get the support they need and we're damn happy you went home safely.