Police Blotter:
July 11, 2012 11:00PM
Updated: August 13, 2012 1:44PM
WILL COUNTY — Three Florida men were reportedly using bogus credit cards to purchase real gift cards in the area before their arrest Tuesday.
Lt. Larry Lindenman said state police received information earlier in the day that Jesus Carbonell, 43; Lixan Riveron-Rodriguez, 23, and Eduardo Vigistain-Elias, 23, were buying gift cards at several businesses.
“They were using manufactured credit cards with stolen (real) numbers to make these purchases,” Lindenman said.
Investigators followed the trio until they came out of Home Depot, 2101 W. 75th St. in Darien, and were taken into custody. Riveron-Rodriguez and Vigistain-Elias, both of Miami, reportedly surrendered without incident, but Carbonell, of Hialeah, “backed up into the officers and took running.”
“He attempted to flee to the other side of the parking lot and had a taser-like stun gun in his hand before agents tackled him,” Lindenman said.
Carbonell was treated for minor injuries at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove before being booked into the county jail with the other suspects on charges of money laundering and using counterfeit credit cards.
Police warn of scam
JOLIET — Police say several residents have put their personal information at risk of a utility bill scam.
On Wednesday, Det. Chris Schott said 50 to 60 water bill payments could be missed by victims who responded to emails about sending their payments as part of a federal program for low-income families.
“It’s a nationwide scam that has now hit our area,” Schott said.
Residents can legitimately pay a water account online, but not from the routing and account numbers victims will use if they provide their Social Security numbers and other information.
In other police news:
Michael B. Loomis: 39, of 1639 Main St. in Crete, was arrested by Steger police and booked into the county jail Monday on a charge of driving on a suspended license.
Garfield W. Love: 33, of 454 Douglas St. in Joliet, was arrested by sheriff’s police and booked into the county jail Monday on a charge of driving on a suspended license.
Mallory N. Neace: 25, of 1835 Pebblestone Drive in Romeoville, was arrested by Romeoville police and booked into the county jail Monday on a charge of vandalism.
Ronald Baker: 44, of 1245 W. 190th St. in Homewood, was arrested by sheriff’s police and booked into the county jail Monday on a charge of theft.
Melissa A. Garcia: 20, of 222 N. Eastern Ave. in Joliet, was arrested by sheriff’s police and booked into the county jail Monday on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving on a suspended license.
Michael L. Sanders: 36, of 522 S. Des Plaines St. in Joliet, was arrested by sheriff’s police and booked into the county jail Monday on a charge of driving on a suspended license.
Kyle Smolucka: 20, of 2823 Rydal St. in New Lenox, was arrested by sheriff’s police and booked into the county jail Monday on charges of narcotics possession, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and possession of fraudulent identification.
Michael B. Tovar: 23, of 956 John St. in Joliet, was arrested by Shorewood police and booked into the county jail Monday on charges of theft and unlawful use of a credit card.
