Domestic battery—Kimberli S. Pickering, of 427 Birchwood Rd. in Hinsdale, was arrested and charged with domestic battery after allegedly pinching the chest area of an adult male family member in an “insulting or provoking nature” that caused bodily harm following a verbal dispute at 9:31 p.m. Jan. 19, said Deputy Chief Mark Wodka of the Hinsdale Police Department.

Wodka said the victim, who required no medical attention, reported the alleged battery to Hinsdale Police. Pickering, 47, was transported to DuPage County Jail for a bond hearing after the arrest.

Wodka said that any time a complainant reports insulting or provoking contact by a family member, officers are mandated to make an arrest regardless of the victim’s wishes according to DuPage County domestic violence protocol.

“This removes the victim from having a decision,” Wodka said. “By making a decision, they might have repercussions against them.”

In many cases, the deputy chief said, the incident that prompts a call to police is not the first incident. Wodka did not say if that was the situation in Pickering's case.

Obstruction of justice—Deanse P. Means, of 9300 S. Prairie Ave. in Chicago, was charged with obstruction of justice after giving Hinsdale Police officers a false name and birth date during a speeding stop near the intersection of Ogden Avenue and Madison Street at 7:46 p.m. Jan. 17.

Means, 25, was driving with an expired license and was charged with speeding and driving with an expired license in addition to obstruction. He was released to appear in court.

DUI—Michael J. Martin, of 2525 S. Hillock Ave. in Chicago, was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after he was observed to be under the influence of alcohol during a speeding stop in the 10 block of West 55th Street at 9:52 p.m. Jan. 22 and failed an ensuing breath test.

Martin, 66, was charged with speeding and DUI. He was released to appear in court.

Possession of cannabis—Hector Castro, of 222 East Ave. in La Grange, and Brittany M. Stead, of 933 S. La Grange Rd. Apt. 2N in La Grange, were charged with drug-related offenses after Castro’s vehicle was found to contain a substance that tested positive for cannabis and Stead was found to be in possession of a cannabis pipe during a traffic stop for “equipment related vehicle infractions” near Garfield Avenue and 9th Street at 12:24 a.m. Jan. 20.

Castro, 21, was charged with possession of cannabis, driving without a front license plate, and not having a rear registration light. Stead, 19, was charged with possession of drug equipment. Both were released to appear in court.

Hit and run—A female victim’s vehicle was hit by another vehicle while parked in the Adventist Hinsdale Hospital parking garage at 11:10 a.m. Jan. 19.

The offending vehicle fled the scene but a witness observed the crash, according to police. The case is pending investigation.

Hit and run—A female victim reported that an unknown suspect in a white SUV hit the driver’s side mirror of her car while it was parked in the 300 block of East 3rd Street on Jan. 19 and did not stop to exchange insurance information.

The cost of the damage to the victim’s vehicle was unknown at the time of the report.

Theft—A female suspect allegedly pumped $50.46 worth of gas at the Marathon gas station at 5837 S. Madison St. at 3:25 p.m. Jan. 19. and then left without paying. The suspect was driving a dark gray Lexus SUV.

Identity theft—A female victim from the 800 block of South Quincy Street reported to police on Jan. 21 that a $28 check she did not recognize was used to purchase a magazine subscription she did not order on Dec. 21. The case is pending investigation.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity in our towns, using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime, or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member are charged with a crime or cited for a violation, and the charge or citation is subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify the editor of this Patch site by emailing joe.odonnell@patch.com and we will do follow-up reporting on the case.