NEWS RELEASE

RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT 31 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL 60546

01 March 2014
Contact:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chief Tom Weitzel
tweitzel@riverside.il.us

708.447.2127

Follow RPD on Twitter @pdriverside

Riverside Police Arrest Two More Suspects in 2013 Burglary Case

Police apprehend getaway driver and additional suspect that went into home from December 31, 2013 burglary

On Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 2:00 p.m., Riverside Police and the WEDGE Gang and Drug Task Force arrested the last two suspects in a December 31, 2013 burglary that took place on the 3500 block of Harlem at 1:15 p.m. On Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., Riverside Police took the first suspect into custody based on arrest from Burbank Police Department. That suspect, Julio S. Guzman 18 of the 2500 block of South Keeler in Chicago has already been charged and is awaiting a late March court date. Arrested on February 27th was Antonio Lemus, 21 of the 2300 block of South Wesley Avenue in Berwyn and Damien S. Romero, 18 of the 4000 block of West 25th Place, Chicago. Both individuals were charged with one count of felony residential burglary. Riverside Police had initially matched shoe impressions that were recovered at the Riverside crime scene to the same shoe impressions that were recovered in the Burbank burglary arrest that took place on January 15, 2014. Through continued investigation, detectives were able to arrest the individuals depicted in this press release bringing it to a conclusion and taking all three suspects into custody who were involved in the Riverside burglary case. On Wednesday, February 27th, Damien Romero was taken into custody at his residence, although initially he tried to hide from police in the attic before he was arrested. Later that day, Antonio Lemus surrendered himself to the Riverside Police with his attorney.

Both Riverside Police Department personnel and WEDGE Gang and Drug Task personnel searched the entire day for the suspects and were successful in taking both into custody. In the complaint, the Riverside Police contend that Damien Romero drove his co-defendants Lemus and Guzman to the residence located on the 3500 block of Harlem Avenue. Lemus and Guzman then entered the home with force using a hammer and removed numerous items including jewelry, electronics, United States currency and other property from the home. Police recovered shoe impressions as well as tool mark impressions from the crime scene which led to the arrest. In a statement the defendants said that they had been out driving around the Berwyn, Cicero, and Riverside area the day of the Riverside burglary looking to make "fast cash" and committed the burglary in Riverside. Lemus and Guzman have additionally been charged for burglary in Burbank. Defendant Romero has not been charged with the Burbank case. Riverside Police have yet been able to recover any of the stolen property as defendants said they immediately sold what property they had taken on the street either in the Cicero or west side of Chicago area for immediate cash. Riverside Police believe that all defendants are responsible for multiple burglaries throughout the west suburbs and they have notified other suburban police agencies as well as City of Chicago of the arrest and giving out details of their crime pattern. Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel stated, "I am extremely proud of the hard work done by Detective Sergeant Frank Lara and Officer James Lazansky. Additionally, the WEDGE Gang and Drug Task Force played a critical role in picking up the defendants and I am extremely gratified that I am involved in such a professional and focused task force such as WEDGE. The officers that work WEDGE are relentless in their pursuit to apprehend gang and drug offenders, who commonly commit property crimes and an array of other crimes that victimize the residents of the communities we serve." Both Mr. Lemus and Guzman's bond was set at 40,000D, meaning they need to post 10 percent to get out of jail. Corrections. Both Antonio Lemus and Damien Romero are self-admitted two six street gang members. Currently, they both remain in the custody of the Cook County Department of

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