Crime & Safety
Two Men Beaten While Trying To Enter Restaurant
Also, a man charged in a hit-and-run case was driving without his left front tire, police said. An arrest is merely an accusation, not evidence of a conviction.
Adrian Velasquez, 19, of Des Plaines, was charged with mob action, two counts of battery and possession and consumption of alcohol by a minor after a disturbance Aug. 31 at Milwaukee Avenue and Ballard Road.
Police responded just after 1:15 a.m. and found victims waiting to speak with them. The first victim, a 35-year-old Niles man, pointed out one of the offenders walking in front of the restaurant at that intersection, later identified as Velasquez, according to the report. Police detained him.
In separate interviews with police, the victims said they were outside the restaurant attempting to enter it when they were jumped by two offenders, who began punching them in the head and face while shouting "King Love! King Love!" according to the report. After bystanders tried to intervene to stop the attack, the offenders fled in different directions.
Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The first victim had a small laceration on the side of his head; the second, a 34-year-old Niles man, had several medium-sized lacerations to his face. Both refused medical treatment.
Officers interviewed Velasquez, who said he had been play fighting, and that another person had done the damage to the victims, the report indicated. Because the officers knew Velasquez and other suspects from previous run-ins, they advised local jurisdictions to be on the lookout for the other suspects.
Find out what's happening in Niles-Morton Grovewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Police said both victims confirmed Velasquez as one of their attackers during a show up. They described the second offender as a male Hispanic about 5' 08", with a muscular build. Police are investigating. Velasquez' court date is Oct. 11 in the Skokie branch of the Cook County courts.
Man Charged In Hit and Run Was Fleeing Without Left Front Tire
Hugo Arias, 38, of North Narragansett Street, Chicago, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, failure to give aid and information and driving without a valid driver's license after a hit and run vehicle accident at Milwaukee Avenue and Oakton Street Aug. 31 at about 1:45 p.m. A witness told police Arias had fled eastbound on Main Street and that the left front tire of his vehicle had fallen off, according to the report. Police located Arias in the 7700 block of Oconto as he was trying to change his left front tire. His court date is Sept. 27 in Skokie.
Information is taken from Niles Police Department reports.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
