McHenry County Blog

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”

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.

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.

Two Crystal Lake Holiday Inn banquet halls were almost filled by people interested in the health care debate.

There were certainly more than 400 people in attendance and it may have come close to 500. Citizens who probably had never attended a policy meeting were mixed with those who had run for office like former Crystal Lake City Council candidate Mike Shorten, whom you see on the end of the row. Shorten was taking notes.

They were drawn by a Patriots United Town Hall meeting at which 16th District Congressman Don Manzullo, Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley (wearing his Centegra Health System executive hat and filling in for invited speaker Centegra President Mike Eesley) and Rockford employee benefits consultant Ryan Brauns were featured speakers.

Above you see the congressman speaking. The stack of paper in front of him is the 1,018 page health care reform bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. Brauns is on the left of the photo and Shepley is on the left.

Father Robert Sherry of McHenry’s Church of Holy Apostles prayed for a “civil tongue in civil discourse.”

His prayer was answered. Whether the $5 price of admission to help pay for the room was the reason or not, I don’t know, but there were no outbursts from members of the audience during the presentation of the health plan of Washington House Democrats, which could not have been described as a friendly one.

A sign at the entrance stated that no posters would be allowed. Both proponents and opponents of President Barack Obama’s health care plan complied with the rule.

Afterward, however, two supporters of reform did show me the placards they had brought to the meeting.

A homemade sign said,

A professionally printed sign from “Progressive Democrats of America” read,

There were some protesters outside. Here you see an early shot. Notice the two policemen in the background.

When I first turned into the parking lot from Three Oaks Road about 6:10, my first indication of a police presence was the squad car you see above.

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that police were everywhere. One organizer told me he had been told there were 14.

You will perhaps remember how Illinois Minutemen were forced to cancel a meeting at the Holiday Inn featuring Ohio Sheriff Daniel Beck. I’m writing a separate article on that.

I kidded Crystal Lake Police Chief Dave Linder that it helped to have the mayor as a speaker. He, of course, made no reply.

Note that Shepley’s copy of the House health care reform bill is half the size of Manzullo’s. Shepley said he used both sides of the paper.

Here’s Part 2.

There is certainly some file into which this behavior should be assigned, but what would you call it?

The Daily Herald’s Chuck Keeshan has a fascinating addition to the information released yesterday about the arrest of 18-year old Crystal Lake Central High School student Matt Hayes for writing a threat with a marking pen on a bathroom wall.

Hayes, who lives close to the school on McHenry Avenue, was the first to report seeing what School District 155 has called graffiti. Crystal Lake Police Chief Dave Linder is identified as Keeshan’s source.

As of Thursday afternoon, Hayes had not been able to raise the $778 necessary to be released from the McHenry County Jail, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

There is certainly some file into which this behavior should be assigned, but what would you call it?

The Daily Herald’s Chuck Keeshan has a fascinating addition to the information released yesterday about the arrest of 18-year old Crystal Lake Central High School student Matt Hayes for writing a threat with a marking pen on a bathroom wall.

Hayes, who lives close to the school on McHenry Avenue, was the first to report seeing what School District 155 has called graffiti. Crystal Lake Police Chief Dave Linder is identified as Keeshan’s source.

As of Thursday afternoon, Hayes had not been able to raise the $778 necessary to be released from the McHenry County Jail, according to the Sheriff’s Department.