Chicagoist Weekend Blotter

By Shannon in News on Jan 14, 2007 10:49PM

After taking time out to witness the Bears' ~~crushing defeat~~ intense victory, we bring you this weekend's blotter:

Two more workers were slain at a Burger King downstate. Pam Branka, 46, and Paul "P.J." Jones, 50, were found dead early Saturday morning in Momence, IL, both victims of an apparent armed robbery. No cash was taken from the registers, but blood was found near the safe. The murders call to mind Mary Hutchison's homicide in a Lindenhurst BK back in November.

A 2-year-old girl from Skokie was found safe Saturday night after being abducted by her father. On Thursday, Alfredo Gonzalez got into an argument with his common-law wife, striking her several times in the face, then dumping her on the side of the road and taking off with their daughter Elizabeth. Police put out an Amber Alert on the girl, which Chicagoist saw on a Walgreens sign last night. Gonzalez was arrested in Norridge; no charges have been filed yet.

A retired cop who suffers from Alzheimer's was found in a forest preserve Friday, three days after he told his wife he was going to the store. 79-year-old Arthur Kolakowski liked to go for walks, but he'd never gone missing from home before. When a few hours passed with no sign of return, Kolakowski's family called the police, who canvassed the area. Police dogs eventually found him less than a mile from his home, dehydrated and shivering, but alive.

we don't need no stinkin' badges!

Finally, a Ford Heights man was arrested for impersonating a police officer. Charles Howard, 47, got pulled over by Lynwood police on Thursday for having tinted windows. Howard told them he was a cop, but couldn't produce any identification; he was given a ticket and let go. Later, Howard called the station and asked for his ticket to be waived, since he was a cop and all. Officers told him to come to the station to file a formal complaint. When Howard showed up, they arrested him and searched his car, finding policeman-esque paraphernalia but no solid proof of identity. Fake cop, meet real jail cell.