McHenry County Blog

Somehow WMAQ-TV broke this story about Prairie Ridge High School wrestlers.

Finally got my hands on Friday’s press release about the investigation of the Prairie Ridge High School wrestlers from the Crystal Lake Police Department.

For the record, it appears below:

On Thursday, February 28, 2010 the Crystal Lake Police Department was notified by Prairie Ridge High School Staff of a possible hazing incident involving a number of students who are members of the school’s wrestling team.

Since first becoming aware of this incident, investigators conducted interviews of the entire wrestling team as well as the school’s coaching staff.

Upon completion of this investigation, the case was presented for Review by the McHenry County State’s Attorney Office.

This review resulted in finding that these reported incidents did not meet the required elements to substantiate felony charges.

Further review by the City’s Attorney led to the filing of misdemeanor charges based on the statements made by the victims as well as witness accounts.

On March 5th, 2010, each of five students were arrested and charged with simple battery.  All five of the cases will be referred to juvenile court.

A person commits battery if he intentionally or knowingly without legal justification and by any means,

(1) causes bodily harm to an individual or

(2) makes any physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with an individual.

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More information can be found in these stories:

District 155 Issues Letter about Prairie Ridge Wrestling Hazing

Additional Statement from High School District 155 on Wrestling Hazing and Intimidation

Prairie Ridge Wrestling Hazing May Have Included Sexual Molestation

Northwest Herald Prohibits Comments on Prairie Ridge Investigation, Former School Board President Characterizes Probe as “Out of Control”

Northwest Herald’s No Comment Policy Not Uniformly Enforced

Locker Room Rules for High School Coaches, Recent Changes in Huntley

Misdemeanor Battery Charges Filed Against Five Prairie Ridge Wrestlers

Five Prairie Ridge High School wrestlers were charged with misdemeanor battery for hazing other team members, an article in the Daily Herald by Chuck Keeshan reports.

The arrests were made about a month after the issue surfaced on WMAQ-TV.

In the only press release on the matter, the Crystal Lake Police Department wrote,

“The investigation has revealed that a number of wrestlers may have been involved in activities that include the restraining of wrestlers by other members of the team who then slap them on the stomach.

“Additionally, police are investigating alleged actions on the part of some members of the wrestling team that may have included certain parts of the restrained wrestlers’ private areas being touched through their clothing.”

Asked today about what happened, McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi wrote McHenry County Blog,

“Our Chief of the Criminal Division, Phil Hiscock, Chief of the Juvenile Division and Felony review, William Stanton and I met with Chief Linder and several detectives concerning the incidents at Prairie Ridge involving the Wrestling team and students.

“After our meeting at the Crystal Lake Police Department, our office re-reviewed all the police reports, discussed the facts at length and found no felonious conduct.

“Crystal Lake made the decision to charge misdemeanors and our office is supportive of that decision and those charges.”

Prosecution will take place behind closed doors in Juvenile Court.

McHenry County Blog printing Police Chief David Linder’s press release in this February 4th article entitled,

“Prairie Ridge Wrestling Hazing May Have Included Sexual Molestation”

Some of the more sanitized comments under the above article give details of the incident. (Sorry, but some of the comments were a bit too graphic for me to want to post, but I thank the posters for them anyway. It added to my knowledge of the reason for the police report.)

Rules which Crystal Lake High School District 155, Huntley School District 158 and Carpentersville School District 300 apply to coaches can be found in the following article:

“Locker Room Rules for High School Coaches, Huntley Makes Recent Changes”

McHenry County Undersheriff Gene Lowery, the man selected by Crystal Lake to be its new deputy police chief, will be honored at a retirement party in Union April 9th.

The details, obtained from the McHenry County Republican Central Committee, are below:

Lowery’s county salary is $136,544.

The rumor during the primary campaign for sheriff was the Keith Nygren would win another term, but not serve it.

His replacement would be Under Sheriff Gene Lowery.

After the primary, the rumors started circulating that Lowery would be named Deputy Chief of the Crystal Lake Police Department.

And, that’s what happened.

At tonight’s city council meeting, Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley followed up on the press release below by saying,

“After a very (extensive) search to replace retired Deputy Police Chief Dennis Harris, we’re happy to announce that Gene Lowery from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department has been selected as Deputy Chief.

“I know Mr. Lowery personally and, frankly, I couldn’t be any happier. I can’t wait for him to start.”

Chief Dave Linder has maximized his pension benefits, but told me he has no plans to retire.

Below is the city’s press release:

New Deputy Police Chief Appointed

Crystal Lake – The Crystal Lake Police Department is pleased to announce the appointment of Eugene E. Lowery to the position of Deputy Police Chief.  Mr. Lowery will fill the position left vacant by Deputy Chief Dennis Harris, who retired on January 29th after 27 years with the Crystal Lake Police Department.

Having served as the Undersheriff of McHenry County since 2003, Mr. Lowery joins the department with a wealth of knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of the public safety needs of the McHenry County and Crystal Lake area.

With a strong educational background that includes a Masters degree in Law Enforcement Administration and extensive experience as a law enforcement executive, Deputy Chief Lowery will join the Department on March 29th, 2010.

Chief David R. Linder is pleased to welcome Deputy Chief Lowery to Crystal Lake and he looks forward to the many contributions that he will make to our organization.

West Elementary School, Crystal Lake, Illinois

Parents of District 47 children are receiving phone calls about an attempted abduction of a 9-year old girl at the corner of Briarwood and North Avenue on the west end of Crystal Lake.

The girl was walking to school when a 20-40 year old male with tan skin and dark brown hair asked her if she wanted a ride to school.

She said, “No,” and ran down the street several blocks to West Elementary School.

The intersection of Briarwood and North Avenue long after the 13 police officers, mainly Sheriff's Deputies, had left.

The man, driving a tan 4-door sedan, was described as wearing as clean shaven and wearing not glasses or jewelry.

The abduction attempt occurred between 8:35 and 8:47 AM.

Lori Parrish, the Crystal Lake Grade School Communications Director, made the phone call. She asked that parents discuss with their children the problem of “stranger danger.”

No wonder so many parents insist on driving their children to and from school.

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Apparently, the crime took place outside of Crystal Lake’s city limits, because the Crystal Lake Police Department is reporting that the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department has primary jurisdiction.

When I took the photos I measured the distance from North Avenue to the school.  It was two-tenths of a mile.

WMAQ-TV ran pictures of Crystal Lake Police Cars at City Hall in its Thursday night story about the proble of Prairie Ridge High School's wrestling hazing.

Reading between the lines of the following press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department, but not too much, led me to the use of the words “sexual molestation” in the headline. See if you agree.

On Thursday, January 28, 2010 the Crystal Lake Police Department was notified by Prairie Ridge High School Staff, regarding their investigation of an anonymous report of possible hazing involving a number of students who are members of the school’s wrestling team.

School District Officials related that they had received an anonymous letter alleging a wrestler was held down by other wrestlers, who then slapped him numerous times on his stomach causing minor injury.

Prairie Ridge School staff, acting on information received in this anonymous letter, conducted their own preliminary investigation to determine the validity of the allegations.

Upon learning through their investigation that certain acts suggested that students engaged in activities that may include criminal conduct, Police were notified.

Since notification, the Crystal Lake Police Department Investigations Division has been conducting interviews at the school to determine the extent of any possible criminal activity.

Crystal Lake Investigators have interviewed over 60 of the student wrestlers which make up the Prairie Ridge wrestling team.

Investigators are also in the process of conducting formal interviews with the teams coaching staff.

The investigation has revealed that a number of wrestlers may have been involved in activities that include the restraining of wrestlers by other members of the team who then slap them on the stomach.

Additionally, police are investigating alleged actions on the part of some members of the wrestling team that may have included certain parts of the restrained wrestlers’ private areas being touched through their clothing.

This investigation continues and the police department has consulted the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office who will review the entire investigation upon its completion. No charges have been filed as of this time.

For further information, contact Chief David Linder at 815-356-3714.

I asked Chief Linder if juveniles are put on the lifetime sex offender list. They are not unless found guilty as an adult.

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See also the letter posted on the Prairie Ridge High School web site this morning and the press release issued later.

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March 6, 2010, update on arrests.

Just to keep you up to date on Crystal Lake High School District’s public response to the wrestling team hazing reported this morning, here is the latest statement.

STATEMENT REGARDING ALLEGED HAZING AND INTIMIDATION AT PRAIRIE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

School and Crystal Lake Police Department Investigations Continues

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill., February 4, 2010 — Prairie Ridge High School administration recently received an anonymous tip regarding allegations of hazing and intimidation by members of the wrestling team.

To protect student safety, administration and coaches took direct action to ensure that any such conduct immediately ceased and also ensured that those affected had access to appropriate support mechanisms.

The school administration began a thorough investigation of these allegations which is still continuing.

The Crystal Lake Police Department is conducting an independent investigation and the school district is fully cooperating in the inquiry.

District 155 is committed to the safety of all of our students, whether in the classroom or in any extracurricular activity. The district has and will take proper disciplinary and other corrective action as appropriate to the facts and as provided for in Board of Education Policy and procedure.

As a matter of both federal and state law, and recognizing the privacy rights of all involved, the district cannot and will not comment on individual student disciplinary matters. The district can state, however, that intimidation and hazing are not tolerated. This situation has provided an opportunity to review our policies and practices in a manner that assures our students are able to participate in athletics in a climate that is positive and safe. We are committed absolutely to providing the students of this school district with a learning environment free from intimidation or hazing whether during the regular school day or at any extracurricular activity.

About Community High School District 155:
Community High School District 155 is comprised of four high schools including Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake South, and Prairie Ridge, and an alternative education center, Haber Oaks. The district serves more than 7,000 students from several cities including Cary, Crystal Lake, Fox River Grove, and Prairie Grove. Nearly 90% of its class of 2009 continued their education beyond high school. For each of the past six years, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has recognized District 155 with its highest financial rating.

District 155’s Mission:
For each student, we will inspire a love for learning, empower the pursuit of personal aspirations, and nurture a desire to contribute to the world.

For more information: www.d155.org

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Also of possible interest, the Crystal Lake Police Department’s press release on its investigation.

And I don’t mean. “Look up to the right.”

An emotionally distraught young woman abandoned her car at Lakeside Center last night.

The search for her included a helicopter flying a search pattern over Crystal Lake (the lake) and environs that woke the adults in the Skinner family.

I thought about going out and taking a photo, but that’s as far as I got.

She was found this morning.

Seeing all the police at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn Friday night reminded me to how city officials effectively caused the cancellation of a peaceful meeting of the Illinois Minutemen. Ohio Sheriff Daniel Beck was scheduled to tell how he dealt with illegal aliens who committed crimes.

A local group announced they would hold a demonstration at the intersection of Route 31 and Three Oaks Road. I think it was across the street from the Holiday Inn.

The Minutemen were told they would have to come up with $3,500 to pay for police needed to control the demonstrators.

Needless to say, this led to the cancellation of the meeting.

Sort of a “Hecklers’ Veto.”

The meeting was re-scheduled at McHenry County College and went off without a hitch. Crystal Lake Police were out in large numbers, however.

I saw nothing that would indicate local protesters, who were allowed to stand protected from the rain with signs in front of the banquet hall entrance, posed any problem, but I’ve been informed that Crystal Lake Police picked up internet chatter that there might be trouble at the meeting and the police asked Patriots United if they could provide security.

At MCC, as at the Holiday Inn last night, the police were being used to protect the First Amendment right of association. I’d say that’s a worthwhile public expenditure, even if the number of officers did appear to be overkill.

Folks carrying signs who parked and walked toward the Holiday Inn were told by police that signs were not allowed. They went back to their cars and left.

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Robert Waddell, Algonquin Precinct 41 (which is in Algonquin) Democratic Party Precinct Committeeman is seen holding a homemade sign with fellow protesters outside the covered entrance of the Holiday Inn that says,

He and his family stayed longer than anyone else.

On the other side of his sign appeared

At about 3:40, with school letting out at 3:30, I saw only one Crystal Lake policeman on Golf Road out in front of South Elementary School.

He wasn’t giving tickets. He was talking to a woman who was legally parked.

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If you wonder why this might be of interest, these two articles will bring you up to speed:

Dads Forced to Cough Up Dough for “Donuts for Dads” Day at South School

South School Parent Writes City Council, District 47 Board