Crime & Safety

Man Threatens To Kill Mom's Caregiver For Poor Service; Charged With Felony, Police Say

He said she didn't take proper care of his mom, and she said she feared for her life. An arrest is merely an accusation, not evidence of a conviction.

Mark Pawlak, 54, of Niles was charged with a Class 4 felony count of aggravated assault Dec. 20, at about 1 p.m., at a home in the 7700 block of Dempster. The 40-year-old female caregiver who takes care of his mother told police, according to the report, that he raised a wooden stick at her while she was doing laundry in the basement and threatened to kill her if she didn't take better care of his mother. The caregiver was able to flee the basement and call 911. She was very upset about the incident, the report detailed, and said she was in fear of her life because he expressed so much anger toward her.

Police interviewed Pawlak, who they said appeared calm, and he told them he had the stick in his hand while yelling at the victim, who he said did not do her job properly. He said he was unhappy with her services and tried to teach her a lesson. His court date is Jan. 10 at the Skokie branch of the Cook County courts.

Woman charged with felony retail theft

Lena Gilliana, 29, of Chicago was charged with Class 4 felony retail theft Dec. 20 just before 9:30 p.m. at a Golf Mill Shopping Center store. A store security guard told police he watched her via security cameras remove $505 worth of items and place them in her purse, then exit the store without paying, according to the report. Her court date is Jan. 23. 

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