PARK RIDGE POLICE BLOTTER: Dec. 16, 2019

Pennsylvanian in Jeep hands over bag of marijuana 

An officer on patrol just after midnight on Dec. 5, traveling east on Grand Avenue behind a white Jeep bearing Pennsylvania registration, saw the Jeep’s driver side tires cross over the double yellow line. 

He also saw that a long item hanging from the rear view mirror was obstructing the driver’s view.

The officer stopped the defendant, 22, from Milford, Pennsylvania, on Grand Avenue in the vicinity of Lawn Street. He reports that, once at the passenger side door, he immediately detected the odor of raw marijuana emanating from within the vehicle. 

At the passenger side window he requested the driver’s credentials. She provided her driver’s license and proof of insurance. At that time, the officer requested a unit for backup.

An officer asked the defendant if there was any contraband inside the vehicle. She said she didn’t think so.

At the start of a probable cause search of the defendant and her car, the defendant handed over a bag of marijuana she had in her jacket’s front pocket. There was nothing in the Jeep.

The defendant was handcuffed and arrested, and taken to headquarters for processing. There, she was served with possession of marijuana under 50 grams, obstructed view, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle. 

She was released from custody at 1:43 a.m., then given a courtesy ride back to her car.

Woman’s Costco account used in attempted ID theft 

A Fremont Avenue resident reported that Costco Wholesale Corporation told her that her Costco card was compromised after an unknown suspect attempted to use her account to buy a $1,265 MacBook Air and have the device shipped to an address in Elmwood Park.

The suspect did not know the account’s security code, so the purchase was cancelled. The address given turned out to be a vacant house.

The resident further reported Dec. 4 that her Facebook and Optimum e-mail accounts were hacked during the same general period. 

Subpoenas were served to Facebook, Costco, and UPS; none returned usable or identifiable information.

The victim later said she did not suffer any loss. The case is closed pending further evidence or suspect identification.