McHenry County Blog

This is from Fox River Grove Police Chief Ronald Lukasik, but one can easily believe it could happen in other local communities:

Fox River Grove Police Solicitation Scam

This morning the police department was notified by a resident that he received a phone call from an individual claiming to respresent the Fox River Grove Police Department. The caller, only identified as “Mike”, indicated he is soliciting funding on behalf of the police department.

The Fox River Grove Police Department DOES NOT solicit monetary funding from the community. If you receive a call similar to this, do not give them any personal information and report this to the police department.

Thank You,

Chief Lukasik

Yesterday when I drove to Lions Park on the Fox River in Fox River Grove I saw campaign signs for Democrat Amanda Howland on the public right-of-way.

A call I had placed to the Public Works Director was returned this morning.

He told me that village ordinance prohibited posting of signs on the right-of-way, that police and public works employees had been picking them up (not on overtime, by the way).

I told him of the Amanda Howland signs that had been missed on the street from Downtown to Lions Park.

When I checked a couple of hours after the call, I was surprised to see the Howland signs had not been removed from Beachway Drive.

Maybe they will disappear after this article is posted.

Then, going back to Crystal Lake, I saw a sign under a stop sign on Opatrny.

I circled around and saw it was advertising a Veterans event at Lake Julian.

On the way down Opartny, however, I saw another Amanda Howland sign and a sign urging people to “Vote Yes” on Jack Franks’ referendum to concentrate power in McHenry County government.

Maybe when Fox River Grove village employees drive by one will see if the Howland and “Vote Yes” signs are indeed in the right-of-way.

An email from Fox River Grove Police Chief Ron Lukasik:

“In following up on the residential burglaries in the Foxmoor Subdivision, the police department took a proactive approach during the subsequent investigation.

“A canvass of the area homes revealed six additional attempts or residential burglaries that had occurred.

“The police department has recovered several items that have not been claimed or identified by these victims.

“At this time it is believed that more burglaries may have occurred in the subdivision that have not been reported.

“We are asking residents to check their home for missing items such as jewelry, small tools and household items.

“If you have items missing and believe you may be a victim of one of these crimes, please contact Sgt. Domagala or Officer Eric Waitrovich at the police department 847-639-2411.

Based on entry points from the previously reported burglaries they will be able to verify whether entry was made to your residence.”

The original press release from the Fox River Grove Police can be found here.

A press release from the Fox River Grove Police Department:

“The Fox River Grove Police Department arrested Zachary C. White Male/White DOB 10-11-1982 of the 312 Spruce Lane Elk Grove Village, Illinois on August 21, 2012.

“He was charged with one count of Residential Burglary (Class 1 Felony) and one count of Attempted Residential Burglary (Class 2 Felony).

“At approximately 3:30 P.M. yesterday Fox River Grove Police were dispatched to a residence on Bradbury Court for a male subject in a garage attempting to make entry into the residence.

“The subject fled the area on foot prior to the Officers arrival.

“The resident was able to provide officers with detailed description of the suspect.

“During a search of the area the suspect, Zachary White, fled from officers.

“White was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit.

“During the course of the investigation, probable cause was established to charge White with a residential burglary that occurred hours earlier at a residence in the 600 block of Hunters Way.

“Items stolen in this burglary included jewelry, medications and electronics which were recovered when White was taken into custody.”

White is currently on parole for a previous Armed Robbery conviction in Indiana. White was subsequently transport to McHenry County Jail, where he remains in custody with bond set at $50,000.

Chief Ron Lukasik

Fox River Grove has a Police Pension Fund presumably financed primarily by local property taxes.

The funding level is about half of that of the distressed State of Illinois pension funds.

Illinois funds it pension funds at 45%.

Fox River Grove is at 25%.

In dollar amounts, the Fund is $4.1 million short.

No wonder village officials wanted citizen permission to hike the local sales tax by 25%.

It failed, but by the narrowest of margins.

Take a look at the history of the FRG Police Pension Fund back to 2003. (I asked for the last ten years. Perhaps the Fund’s first year was 2003.)

The Fox River Grove Police has released videos of two car burglaries in the Hunters Farm and Foxmoor subdivisions.

Perhaps you can identify the guy.

Here is the press release:

Since April 26th, 2012, Fox River Grove Police Department has received twelve reported Burglary to Motor Vehicle incidents.

These incidents have been reported in the Hunters Farm and Foxmoor subdivisions. Items removed from the vehicles include electronics and credit cards and loose change.

Images below are of a suspect in one of the incidents in the Foxmoor subdivision.

Here’s another video:

These incidents appear to crimes of opportunity, as all the vehicle were left unlocked. Please make every effort to protect your belonging by bringing them into your home and locking your doors.

If you have any information to assist in solving these crimes or identifying the suspect, please contact Fox River Grove Police Department at 847-639-2411 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-762-7867.

A press release from the McHenry County State’s Attorney:

FOX RIVER GROVE MAN SENTENCED TO 38 YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR THE OFFENSE OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that Martin Green, 29, of Fox River Grove was sentenced to 38 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of First Degree Murder.  The defendant must serve 100 percent of the sentence as mandated by Illinois law.

On February 11, 2010 the defendant killed Patricia McNamara, his stepmother, by beating her to death with a hammer. This incident occurred at Mrs. McNamara’s home in Fox River Grove.

After the murder the defendant fled the scene and washed blood from his body in the Fox River and then disposed of his clothes in a dumpster.

The defendant was apprehended by the police after a search of the area.

This case was investigated by the Fox River Grove Police Department with the assistance of the McHenry County Investigative Assistance Team. The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys David Johnston and Patrick Kenneally.

An email from the Fox River Grove Police Chief:

Fox River Grove Police Department is investigating an Armed Robbery that occurred at approximately 10:50 A.M. this morning in the area of School Street and Mound Street.

A 19 year old male from Fox River Grove was walking along School Street when he was approached from behind by three subjects, one armed with a knife, who demanded all his cash.

The victim handed one of the offenders $400.00.

The offenders then fled the area W/B School Street toward Northwest Highway.

The offenders are described as:

1. Male/Hispanic, 16 years of age, 5’09″, thin build, wearing a blue ski mask and a dark brown hooded sweat shirt
2. Male/Hispanic, 16 years of age, 5’06″, medium build, wearing a black ski mask and a tan hooded sweat shirt
3. Male/Hispanic, 16 years of age, 5’06″, medium build, wearing a black ski mask and a tan hooded sweat shirt, armed with a knife

Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation of this crime is asked to contact Fox River Grove Police Department at 847-639-2411 or Crimestoppers 800-762-7867.

Chief Lukasik

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office:

CRYSTAL LAKE WOMAN SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON
FOR THE ROBBERY OF CHASE BANK IN CARY, ILLINOIS

ROCKFORD – PATRICK J. FITZGERALD, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; ROBERT D. GRANT, Special Agent-In-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; RONALD K. LUKASIK, Chief of the Fox River Grove Police Department; and STEVEN CASSTEVENS, Chief of the Cary Police Department, today made the following announcement:

Today, in Rockford federal court, United States District Judge Philip G. Reinhard sentenced SILK P. LUMPKINS, 36, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, to 18 months in federal prison for the May 26, 2010, robbery of Chase Bank, 300 Northwest Highway, Cary, Illinois.

Lumpkins pled guilty on February 16, 2011.

]In pleading guilty, Lumpkins admitted that at about 2:20 p.m. on May 26, 2010, she entered Chase Bank wearing a disguise consisting of heavy covering make-up on her face and hands, a long blonde wig, long-sleeved shirt, and a baseball cap.

Lumpkins further admitted that she wrote a note at the self-service desk ,approached a teller at the counter, and handed the note to the teller that stated something to the effect of:

“If you don’t want to die today, give me all your money. You have 30 seconds to do this.”

According to the plea agreement, the teller then removed $5,876 from her drawer and handed the money to Lumpkins. Lumpkins then put the money into a blue “Chase” deposit bag that she brought with her and walked out of the bank with the bag.

Lumpkins was arrested on June 2, 2010.

In addition to the 18 month prison sentence, Lumpkins was ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release following her release from prison.

The court further ordered Lumpkins to serve the first 6 months of her supervised release in home confinement with electronic monitoring.

The court also ordered Lumpkins to pay restitution to Chase Bank in the total amount of $5,876.

The case was investigated by the Rockford Office of the FBI, the Fox River Grove Police Department and the Cary Police Department.

The case was prosecuted in federal court by Assistant United States Attorney SCOTT A. VERSEMAN.

Here’s what the Fox River Grove Police Department says about the robberies:

Fox River Grove Police investigating several burglaries

Sometime between the evening hours of 02-24-11 and the early hours of 02-25-11 multiple burglaries occurred in the 300 block of Northwest Highway.

This includes two stores

• A Tobacco Shop and
• The Bicycle Stop.

Also burglarized was an apartment.

Items taken include cash, electronics, tools, jewelry, bicycles and other miscellaneous items.