A former Brookfield resident faces two felony drug charges and could face weapons charges after police from Brookfield and other municipalities raided his Summit home on March 17.
Brookfield police obtained a warrant to search the apartment of William T. Kovacic, 29, of 7332 W. 59th St., Summit based on evidence of drug dealing in Brookfield, according to Brookfield Police Lt. Michael Manescalchi. Kovacic, lived in Brookfield until he moved to Summit in recent months, according to Manescalchi.
Brookfield police, along with members of the west suburban Major Case Assistance Team (MCAT) and the Cook County Sheriff’s Police, executed the search warrant on March 17. Cook County personnel were requested since information indicated that weapons or explosives might be present in Kovacic’s residence.
During a search of the apartment, police allegedly discovered approximately 12 grams of cocaine, packaging supplies, a small amount of cannabis and drug paraphernalia.
In addition, police reportedly recovered a homemade explosive device and another item that appeared to be an explosive device. Those items were removed by the members of the Cook County bomb squad.
Kovacic was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one a Class 4 felony and the other a Class 1 felony; possession of cannabis; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police also said that Kovacic was wanted on a bond forfeiture warrant out of DuPage County for failure to appear on a suspended driver’s license charge.
Further charges against Kovacic are pending crime lab results of the suspect explosive devices recovered from his home.
Road block results
Riverside police, in conjunction with the Cook County Sheriff’s Police and Forest Preserve District Police, issued some 150 citations to motorists during a roadblock between 8:30 p.m. on March 18 and 1:30 a.m. on March 19 on First Avenue at the Zoo Woods forest preserve.
Riverside officers wrote a total of 51 citations, while Cook County and Forest Preserve officers notched similar totals, according to a release issued by Riverside police on Monday.
Of the citations written by Riverside officers, 26 were for no insurance , 13 for no driver’s licenses, two for seatbelt violations, one child restraint violation and four suspended licenses.
In addition, Riverside police charged Maywood resident Bernardo Rodriguez, 42, with aggravated driving under the influence after officers reported that he appeared intoxicated. A breath test after his arrest revealed a blood-alcohol level of .14. Police also reported that Rodriguez had no valid license and was driving an uninsured vehicle, prompting the DUI charge to be upgraded to a felony.
Burglary to motor vehicle
During the early morning hours of March 18, someone entered a 2000 Chevy four-door parked in the rear lot of an apartment building in the 8900 block of Burlington Avenue, Brookfield, and removed a Delphi AM/FM/satellite radio and wiring from the dash.
DUI
Chicago Ridge resident Saul Rangel, 31, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence and aggravated driving while revoked, both felonies, after Riverside police responded to the scene of a traffic accident at 1:24 p.m. on March 11 near the intersection of Harlem Avenue and Addison Road.
According to the report, Rangel’s 1994 Chevy pickup rear-ended a 2006 Dodge Caravan, which was waiting to make a left turn, and then appeared to flee the scene. Police stopped Rangel’s vehicle just down the block.
Inside the truck, police reported seeing an open 12-pack of beer on the floor of the passenger side and three empty beer bottles on the ground next to the truck. In addition, Rangel allegedly appeared intoxicated. Police arrested him for DUI. At the station, they learned that Rangel had an active Cook County warrant for his arrest in connection with a prior DUI, and that his license was revoked due to prior DUIs.
Riverside police charged Summit resident Jason M. Foster, 31, with DUI and other offenses after his Oldsmobile reportedly struck the railroad bridge over First Avenue and stopped in the middle of the roadway, blocking traffic, at 2:08 a.m. on March 19.
Police responded to the scene to find the vehicle, with its passenger side front tire completely shredded, in the middle of First Avenue. An officer administered field sobriety tests to Foster, which he reportedly failed. A breath test later revealed a blood-alcohol level of .20, over twice the legal limit.
In addition, Foster was cited for improper parking on a roadway, illegal transportation of open alcohol and having no valid driver’s license.
These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside and Brookfield police departments from March 11 through March 19 and which represents a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. The cases have not yet been adjudicated.
?”Compiled by Bob Uphues
