LP_071819

4 | July 18, 2019 | the lockport legend news
lockportlegend.com
Lockport police officer surprises
community with friendly gesture
Police Reports
Police: Tools stolen
Alex Ivanisevic
Editor
The day before the Fourth
of July was a scorcher, but one
Lockport Police Department officer
took the chance to brighten
the day in a cool way.
On that Wednesday afternoon,
Lockport Township Park District
Camp Counselor Stephanie
Dinolfo said the summer camp
children had just settled into
their “free-choice time” playing
games or water activities at Willow
Walk Park in Lockport when
she noticed an officer nearby was
monitoring a stop sign. Residents
in the neighborhood claimed to
be having trouble with the intersection
and speeding cars.
Not long after, the officer
drove into the parking lot of the
park, announced something on
his loud speaker and according
to Dinolfo, the campers took off
running towards the officer.
“Free ice cream,” Officer Vince
Vitacco announced on his speaker.
He brought Bomb Pops popsicles
for all the kids at camp to
cool off with under the pavilion.
Dinolfo said, “I guess Officer
Vitacco just thought it was an extremely
hot day and in the spirit
of Independence Day he wanted
to be patriotic and do something
nice for the kids to show them
police are there as friends and
allies.”
She said the kind gesture really
stuck with her and the other
camp counselors. “We just want
to say thank you to Officer Vitacco
for acknowledging us and
being a good role model,” Dinolfo
said.
Vitacco has been with the
Lockport Police Department for
17 years. He said he saw that the
popsicles were on sale at Jewel
and once he drove around and
saw children everywhere playing
outside in the heat, he knew what
he wanted to do.
“I was just handing them out
to kids as I saw them, prior to the
Fourth of July, I was even playing
the ice cream man music,” he
said. “Families couldn’t believe
it and the kids absolutely loved
it, it filled my heart to share with
the community.”
Camp Counselor Stephanie Dinolfo took this picture of Officer Vince Vitacco giving popsicles to
children at Willow Walk Park on July 3. Photo Submitted
from junior high roof
Two generators, two air compressors,
among tools stolen
from the roof of Fairmont Junior
High, 735 Green Garden Place,
on June 20. The tools were left
there by crew with Olsson Roofing.
The crew had removed the
ladders so there was no access
to the roof, but someone used
a handcart and pipe fencing to
gain access to the roof. Three
blowers, four accutracks, several
drills, saw chargers, batteries,
grinders, extension cords, an air
hose, hand tools and a radio were
stolen as well.
Lockport Police Department
June 23
• Anthony Desimone, 37, of
Woodridge, was charged with
speeding, no valid registration,
operation of uninsured motor
vehicle, driving while license
suspended and had an outstanding
warrant out for his arrest. Officer
observed vehicle traveling
at a high rate of speed in the 700
block of N. State Street, subsequently
conducting a traffic stop
on the offending vehicle. Subject
was released on bond pending
Will County Court date and Du-
Page County Court date.
June 22
• Adam Hesik, 21, of Crest
Hill, was charged with criminal
damage to property. Officers
responded to the 1000 block of
S. State Street for a subject who
had punched an ATM cracking
the glass on the machine. Subject
was released on bond pending
Will County Court date.
June 21
• $75 was taken from an unlocked
vehicle in the 200 block
of Parkview Lane in Lockport.
Officer responded to aburglary
to motor vehicle call after the
owner learned someone had entered
his unlocked vehicle removing
$75 from the center console
of the vehicle.
Will County Sheriff’s Office
June 20
• Jacob Nagel, 19, of the 600
block of Oak Street, was arrested
and charged with two counts of
fleeing/eluding police, disobeying
a stop sign, speeding and
forgery/counterfeit.
June 17
• Patrick L. Taylor, 37, of 223
Riverview Ave. in Lockport, was
arrested for burglary to motor
vehicle, theft of vehicle parts (2
counts), criminal trespass to vehicle,
aggravated driving while
license suspended, and resisting
a peace officer at the 3600 block
of S. State St.
June 16
• Lavoris R. Lennon, 28, of 113
South Ave. in Lockport, was arrested
for battery and resisting a
police officer. Megan M. Glaum,
27, of the same address, was arrested
for two counts of endangering
the life/health of a child.
• Jorge Zamora-Rivera, 21, of
111 Akin Ave. in Joliet was cited
for no valid driver’s license, operating
an uninsured motor vehicle,
and speeding on the 21000
block of West Division Street in
Lockport.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Lockport
Legend’s Police Reports are
compiled from official reports found
online on the Will County Sheriff’s
Office or Lockport Police Department’s
website or releases issued by
the department and other agencies.
Individuals named in these
reports are considered innocent of
all charges until proven guilty in a
court of law.