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August 7, 2008

Jewel Foods, 7036 Roosevelt Road in Oak Park
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

Homeless Black Man is Crushed in Compactor by Jewel Employees
report and commentary by Ed Vincent

An African American homeless man had his spinal column broken, when an unnamed individual working at the Jewel
Food store (at 7036 Roosevelt Road in Oak Park) turned on a trash compactor located on the outside of the Jewel Foods.

Jewel Foods trash compactor in Oak Park
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

The small trash compactor is where Mr. Kenneth D. Holman was found dead at the Jewel Store, a little after 6:00 p.m. on August 5th, Tuesday.

Mr. Holman has had police records indicating that he had
been found in dumpsters before, either searching for food, shelter, or some other unknown activity. He was arrested in 2005, in the winter, in a dumpster near the Walgreen's Drug store at 916 Madison Street (between Home and Clinton Ave).

Mr. Holman had apparent drug markers on his arm(s) (track signs often associated with illegal drug use) and was known
in many communities as being homeless, from Hillside to Chicago. Those who knew him from the street called him "Kenny" and some said while crying, that they couldn't
believe what happened to him.

Jewel Foods trash compactor with power and controls on the inside of
the Store.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo

When he was 'crushed' in the compactor, it is believed that
no one caused this to happen with any prior intent or
knowledge of Mr. Holman's activity in the dumpster.

The dumpster is located at the south-west side of the building and not in view of anyone, there are no windows at the
location, only two large electrical leads coming from the building that control the compactor. There are signs near
the container telling patrons of Jewel to keep the music in
their cars reasonable, but no warning that if the resident's children or other citizens were to venture to look or enter
the dumpster they could be permanently injured or killed.

The design and unattended use is a crime against reasonable people, their safety, and the unaware. There should never
have been a building permit issued for a mechanism like
this, without direct supervision of the operator to be put
into place.

We can hear the court doors opening soon to hear cases from this travesty. Sources have informed us that when Mr. Kenneth D. Holman had his spine destroyed by the machine, he lived
for a time before he died in the refuse compactor.

The Village has placed signs on the dumpster to inform folks that the item is not to be moved. Employees of the store were looking for answers to the what they had heard happened, but all is quiet officially at the store.

Other homeless people come to the Jewel to shoplift on a regular basis, and can be seen from time to time on the outside of the store eating from items removed from the store. Mr. Dreadlocks (Dreadlocks), an Oak Park visitor and street person, a caucasian man with red brown dreads has been a
local for decades, is one individual who can be seen shopping
at this Jewel and buying one thing but eating three outside.

Mr. Holman was not as well known locally, but deserved better from our town. Please correct the public safety issue at the Jewel Food store at 7036 Roosevelt Road.