WEDGE MEMBER

POLICE
DEPARTMENTS

C/O: Riverside Police Department, 31 Riverside Rd., Riverside, IL 60546

BERWYN

Chief Jim Ritz

BROOKFIELD

Chief Steve Stelter

Press Release
July 3, 2015
Chief Thomas Weitzel, Chairperson
Riverside PD
708.447.2127
tweitzel@riverside.il.us

ELMWOOD PARK

Chief Frank Fagiano

FOREST PARK

Chief Tom Aftanas

Dora Murphy
Secretary
NORTH RIVERSIDE

Chief Lane Niemann

OAK PARK

Chief Rick Tanksley

RIVER FOREST

Chief Greg Weiss

RIVER GROVE
Chief Rodger Loni
RIVERSIDE

Chief Tom Weitzel

Chairperson
708 447 2127
tweitzel@riverside.il.us
STICKNEY

Chief John Sladetz

Riverside Police and WEDGE Make Additional

Arrest in Drug Operation
WEDGE officers arrest another drug suspect from original Oak Park
drug search warrant.
On Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at 4:00 p.m., Riverside Police and the
WEDGE Gang and Drug Task Force arrested an additional suspect
in the targeted drug operation which WEDGE shut down in
February 2015.
This was part of a continuing narcotics
investigation that began in February 2015 and ended with the
arrest of the suspect on Tuesday, June 30.
The original
investigation was part of an executed search warrant that took
place at a residence located on the 1100 block of South Euclid
Avenue in Oak Park on Friday, February 13, 2015 at 6:00 a.m. In
this case, Riverside Police and WEDGE officers arrested three
individuals for numerous felony crimes including manufactured
delivery of methamphetamine, cocaine, and other drug-related
crimes. This case is still pending in circuit court for these
individuals.
Arrested on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 was Brian J. Hayes, 44 of
the 1100 block of Thomas Avenue in Forest Park. On Tuesday,
Mr. Hayes was charged with felony possession with intent to
deliver 66 grams of cannabis, amounts of methamphetamine
and Hydrocodone. All the narcotics were packaged for delivery.
Mr. Hayes was taken into custody outside his home in Forest Park
without incident by the WEDGE Gang and Drug Task Force.
Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel and WEDGE chairperson
stated, The arrest of Brian Hayes brings to conclusion a lengthy
investigation involving narcotics trafficking at a home in the 1100

WEDGE: A Regional Task Force of West Suburban Cook County Police Agencies Representing a Population of Over 250,000 Residents.

block of South Euclid Avenue in Oak Park. When the original arrest took place in February
2015, the property owner removed those individuals from that home and they have not been
living there since the search warrant was executed. Mr. Hayes was identified as an
individual both selling and purchasing narcotics from that home but police and WEDGE
officers continued to work the investigation to the point where they could bring evidence to
make an arrest on Tuesday.
Chief Weitzel went on to state, Mr. Hayes initially walked up to the front door on
February 13, 2015 at 6:00 a.m. when the WEDGE Gang and Drug Task Force was actually
physically executing their search warrant. Police identified Mr. Hayes but at the time did not
have the evidence to make an arrest. His arrest on Tuesday marked the conclusion of the
entire narcotics investigation which started in February 2015.
The WEDGE Gang and Drug Task Force have been focusing on long-term gang and drug
investigations. While these complicated and sometimes time consuming investigations can
take more time to develop, they have a greater impact on the quality of life issues for
residents in the area that the WEDGE Task Force is working.
The WEDGE Gang and Drug Task Force will continue to pursue drug offenders as part of
an ongoing suppression of gang and drug activity in the western suburbs.
Charged: Brian J. Hayes, 44 of the 1100 block of Thomas in Forest Park. Charged
with six counts of felony manufacture and delivery of Cannabis, Amphetamine and
Hydrocodone.
WEDGE:
In October of 2006, the chiefs of these agencies met for a common purpose, forged a viable
intergovernmental agreement that each municipalities governing body ratified, and formed a
regional task force dedicated to attacking the problem of gang activity. Their first full
operational year was 2008; this group of officers and supervisors, working 3-6 task force
days a month, has made a significant impact on local street gang and drug activity.

The public is reminded that a signed complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all
defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court
of law.

WEDGE: A Regional Task Force of West Suburban Cook County Police Agencies Representing a Population of Over 250,000 Residents.