Over Easter weekend, Naperville Police have added two more individuals to the tally of arrests at the local Topgolf parking lot, where guns and drugs have steadily been turning up. According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, the frequency of such incidents has been unsettling for a venue known for its family-friendly entertainment.
Dijon Lane, a 34-year-old resident of Blue Island, and Tavell Jackson, 44, of Maywood, are currently being held in DuPage County Jail without bond. Lane was caught with a loaded 40-caliber pistol in his vehicle, while Jackson was found to both possess a 9mm pistol and have over 12 grams of crack cocaine on his person. These arrests, part of a broader trend of 18 felony arrests since last summer, are raising concerns about why this sports facility has seemingly to become a magnet for criminal activity. As per the ABC 7 I-Team, no connection among these arrests has been discovered.
The ABC 7 I-Team's findings through a Freedom of Information request have shown that guns were involved in 14 of the arrests, with drugs such as ecstasy, crack cocaine, and heroin found in nine cases. In video footage, Naperville officers were captured discovering guns in parked cars while patrons were inside the venue, suggesting a lackadaisical approach to concealing illegal items.
"I'm not sure what the attraction is," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said, puzzled by the pattern of Topgolf's attraction for felons with guns. While no drug sales have been observed, the proximity to I-88 might be a contributing factor to the facility's unwanted visitors. Topgolf has responded, noting safety as their top priority and stressing that they have been proactively cooperating with the police. Berlin continued to maintain the view that the venue "remains a safe place that people should feel safe going to," despite recent events.
