Crime & Safety
Police Blotter: Dog Left Panting in Hot Car, Man Socks LP Officer After Stealing Bed
Oak Lawn police reports, July 4 through July 5.
THURSDAY, JULY 5
Cruel Treatment of Animals
Police went to the 9500 block of South Kolin Avenue around 10:26 a.m. because of a report of a dog left inside a hot car, reports said. The officer said when he arrived he found a dog locked inside a car with the windows down 2 or 3 inches. The dog was panting and didn’t have any food or water. An infrared thermometer measured the inside of the car at 122 degrees, police said. After several attempts to contact the dog’s owner, the officer was given permission by his supervisor to remove the dog from the car. The officer stuck a metal wire through the open window and unlocked the car. Police removed the dog and left a contact notice for the owner that the dog was being brought to the Animal Welfare League. Around 12:30 p.m., police met with the dog’s owner, Mark N. Tannous, 28, of the 9500 block of South Kolin Avenue. Tannous and his mother said he owns a business in Chicago and didn’t want to leave the dog there because of fireworks. His mom was afraid to leave the dog in the laundry room because she felt the dog might bite a tenant. Police said the mother admitted she was afraid of the dog. Earlier, Tannous said he gave the dog some food and water and put the dog in his car. He went out again to give the dog more water and brought the bowl back inside the house. Police issued three tickets to Tannous for not providing food and water to an animal, and not having a rabies tag and village dog license.
WEDNESDAY JULY 4
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Man Outruns Flip Flops Fleeing Store
Jason P. Burkholder, 35, of Evergreen Park, was charged with battery after police said he punched a store loss prevention officer during a retail theft at Kmart, 4101 W. 95th St. The loss prevention officer said he saw Burkholder in the sporting goods department quickly selecting a twin airbed, according to the report. Police said Burkholder concealed the bed in his backpack and left the store. Confronted by the loss prevention officer outside the store, police said Burkholder punched the guard in the ear and fled, leaving his flip-flops and some food items on the ground. Police found Burkholder hiding in some bushes on the corner of 95th Street and Pulaski. The air bed was also recovered from the man’s backpack. Police said Burkholder admitted that he knew it was a bad idea to steal the airbed. He also had food items in his backpack, including tea and wheat germ. Burkholder told police he bought the good at Pete’s Market. Police said he could have the food back when he provided a receipt. No calls for retail theft were reported from Pete’s Market. Burkholder was charged with battery and retail theft.
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