On Wednesday, February 5, the Oak Forest Police Department charged 48-year-old Michael J. Witowski of Crestwood with one felony count of theft from a school.  Witowski was seen on security footage fleeing Oak Forest High School on January 19 with a backpack that belonged to a cheerleading coach from another high school attending the annual Bengal Challenge cheerleading competition.

According to police, security cameras in the school showed an unknown subject enter the school, make his way into a classroom where the cheerleading coach placed her belongings, and flee the building holding what appeared to be the coach’s backpack.  Through social media posts and the combined efforts of admistrators at Oak Forest High School and Oak Forest police officers, the suspect was identified as Witowski and taken into custody without incident.

“We thank the Oak Forest community and the high school for their assistance in this investigation,” said Oak Forest Police Chief Scott Durano. “It is through this sort of community effort that we can keep one another safe, and successfully investigate incidents like this one.”

Members of the public are reminded that this arrest and complaint contains only charges and is not proof of the defendant’s guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove his or her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

PHOTO: Michael J. Witowski