Crime & Safety

120 Grams of Cannabis Nets Felony Charge; Scared Woman Reports Ex Harassing Her, Police Say

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Demetrios Giannakopoulos, 29, of Skokie, was charged with Class 4 felony possession of more than 30 grams of cannabis, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia. Police said they saw Giannakopoulos and another man quickly exit a vehicle parked in the Golf Mill Shopping Center parking lot on July 19 as the squad car approached just before 7:45 p.m. The officer asked them why they were in the vehicle and why they exited so quickly, and they said they worked at the auto dealership across Milwaukee Avenue and had to get back to work after their break, according to the report.

The officer observed the odor of marijuana on Giannakopoulos and he admitted that there was cannabis inside the vehicle and that they had been smoking it, the report said. He gave police verbal and written permission to search the vehicle, and they found two plastic bags of green leafy substance in the front passenger compartment and a large quantity in the trunk, for a total of 120 grams, according to the report. His court date is Aug. 23 in the Skokie branch of the Cook County courts. 

Frightened woman reports harassment, police say; ex-boyfriend charged with violating order of protection

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Valentin Villareal, 28,of Niles was charged with violating an order of protection July 20  in the Golf Mill Shopping Center parking lot. 

The incident began just after 7 a.m. when a witness said a woman, 28, was being followed on foot by her ex-boyfriend near Ballard and Cumberland. Police found her and Villareal near the bus stop at Golf Mill, and she said Villareal, her ex-boyfriend, had been following and harassing her, according to the report. A Spanish-speaking officer translated since neither of the parties spoke English. 

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The woman said she noticed Villareal riding his bicycle near her apartment at 6:45 a.m. and called her boss to say she would be late for work because she was afraid to go outside. She has an active order of protection against Villareal. Eventually, when she didn't see him, she left for work, but he showed up and followed her as she walked, asking her why they can't date anymore. She said she is afraid of him but didn't call 911 because she doesn't speak English. A police officer took the victim to her workplace. Villareal's court date is Aug. 23 in Skokie. 

Information is taken from Niles Police Department reports.  





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