Police Honor Standout Citizens

The Greenfield Police Department recognized several citizens at their annual banquet this month, honoring them with their police challenge coins which are given to citizens who go above and beyond to help the police department.

The following summaries of specific incidents were provided by the police department. Some names were redacted as the citizen's involvement led to arrests and/or incarceration:

Paula and Robert

On Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 10 a.m., a male armed with a semi‐automatic pistol entered the Credit Union Service Center located at 6126 West Layton Avenue, approached the teller, pointed a gun at her, and demanded money. After obtaining more than $4,000 in cash, the suspect exited the bank and fled the area in a black two‐door vehicle. The victim teller recognized the robber as the same subject that had robbed the Credit Union previously on April 22, 2011.

Robert and Paula were also at the Credit Union and had just concluded their banking when the robbery occurred. They were getting into their vehicle in the parking lot when bank employees came out of the Credit Union stating they had just been robbed and frantically pointed to a small black vehicle that was exiting the parking lot.

Paula and Robert followed the vehicle and gave continuous updates as to the suspects location, until officers from the Greenfield and Greendale police departments stopped him in the Southridge Mall parking lot. Officers arrested the bank robber and recovered the handgun used and all of the stolen money.

It was later found the suspect was the same one who had robbed the Credit Union on April 22, 2011, at which time he obtained $6,000 at gun point.

Because of the Paula and Robert's actions, a dangerous serial bank robber was caught and brought to justice. John K. Macomber, is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence in the Pekin Illinois Federal Correctional Institution.

D’Andre

On Jan. 6, at 11:30 p.m., an armed robbery occurred at the Golden Key Motel located at 3600 South 108th Street. The victim was robbed of prescription medication and pistol-whipped. The suspects involved then fled on foot. D’Andre observed a male subject running southbound through the parking lot. He noticed that the subject was carrying a gun and then entered a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which was parked in his employer’s parking lot.

D’Andre got into his car and started following this vehicle on Highway 100. He was able to obtain a license plate for the vehicle, assisting in the identification and arrest of one of the three suspects involved.

Laron Pointer and Marlon Williams

On March 8, Laron Pointer and Marlon Williams were eating at the Applebee’s Restaurant on South 76th Street when they observed another patron who appeared to be having trouble breathing and choking.

They immediately went to the aid of the choking person and attempted the Heimlich maneuver. As they were attempting to dislodge what was causing the person to choke, the person passed out in their arms. As they were lowering the person to the floor, the person regained consciousness and started breathing. While in the process of lowering the subject to the floor, the object causing the person to choke was dislodged enough to allow the subject to start to breathe.

Without the quick actions of Laron Pointer and Marlon Williams, the woman may have died.

Devon

On May 14, at approximately 4 p.m., squads were dispatched to Pick ‘N Save, 4279 S. 76th St. for a retail theft.

Devon was also in the parking lot and observed a commotion. He saw an elderly woman laying on the ground and a subject fleeing through the parking lot. He gave chase to the subject and followed the subject as the subject fled through yards and jumped over fences. At one point, Devon was able to catch up with the suspect and attempted to restrain the subject for police. The subject then punched Devon in the ribs, and eventually got away.

Devon returned to Pick ‘N Save, where he was able to give police a detailed description of the suspect.

Police were able to locate the suspect and place the him under arrest. The suspect was later found to be a member of the Latin Kings gang and had just committed a retail theft at TJ Maxx as well. The suspect also had a felony warrant for his arrest through the Department of Corrections for a Violation of Probation.

Bruce

On May 15, at 9:40 p.m., officers were investigating a report of a possible suicidal/homicidal subject at a residence located on South Rivershire Drive. The Greenfield Police Department had previously dealt with this same resident approximately one year earlier.

Due to statements and actions made, a SWAT team was assembled. Bruce, a Rivershire employee, assisted officers in setting up a command post at the clubhouse and helped disable overhead lights that put officers at risk.

A short time later, the incident was resolved peacefully.

Maria

On May 22, at approximately 4:15 p.m., Maria was a customer inside Speedway, 3390 W. Loomis Rd. While inside the store, she observed the clerk crying because she had just been robbed.

Maria recognized a man the clerk said committed the robbery and gave a description to him to police. Based upon information Maria provided, police were able to positively identify and arrest the suspect, who had also attempted to rob a gas station in Milwaukee.

Gabriel

On July 9, Gabriel contacted the Greenfield Police Department regarding a suspicious vehicle. Officers located the vehicle and recovered more than one pound of marijuana, 75 hits of LSD, a scale, and numerous plastic baggies. The suspect also had more than $4,000 and was arrested.

Beth

On Aug. 16, at 4 p.m., Beth contacted the police department regarding a suspicious incident in which she observed a female subject throw a purse in her neighbor’s yard and then run from that location. Beth

was able to give police officers a description of the subject and the last direction of travel.

Because of Beth ability to gather this information and her suspicions of the suspect, Greenfield police were able to arrest two individuals who had stolen a purse from the Pick 'n Save parking lot.

Ahmad

On Oct. 2, a shopper at Kmart on South 27th Street was walking back to his vehicle when approached by a subject. This subject raised the front of his shirt, displaying a dark colored handgun. Through the armed suspect did not say anything to the shopper, the shopper feared for his safety and believed that he was about to get carjacked.

While this happened, Ahmad was leaving Kmart and observed the shopper being approached by another subject. Ahmad watched the suspect walk up to the victim and lift up the right side of his shirt. Ahmad then started running toward the suspect and the shopper, yelling at the suspect and chased the suspect, who pulled out what appeared to be a handgun and pointed it at Ahmad.

Ahmad returned to the parking lot and was able to give officers a description of the suspect, who was arrested.

Cynthia

On Aug. 2, at approximately 11:35 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 3300 block of West Bridge Street on the report of two suspicious juveniles that were looking into open garages.

Cynthia told officers she had observed two juvenile subjects walking on West Bridge Avenue and that they were acting suspiciously and looking into open garages. Cynthia observed the subjects enter one garage, at which time the homeowner came out of the residence and started yelling at the juveniles.

She got in her car and followed the suspects, who were later found to have entered garages and stole bicycles and other items.

Alicia Smokowicz

Alicia has helped plan the Greenfield National Night Out since the department became involved with this event five years ago. For each of the previous National Night Out events, Alicia has arranged, through a contact of hers, to have Klement's bratwursts and hot dogs donated to feed all the guests at the event. She has also provided plates and napkins for each event. Most importantly, Alicia  has donated her time at each National Night Out running the kitchen and serving food.

Alicia has been dedicated to our National Night Out and has also served as a Neighborhood Block Watch Captain. In appreciation for her dedicated support of the Greenfield Police Department and National Night Out, Alicia received a plaque of appreciation.