McHenry County Blog

A friend of McHenry County Blog told me that police officers were inside recently arrested McHenry County Sheriff Sgt. Greg Pyle’s home. That was just before 2 PM.

It took me a long time to find the address, 1,566 Autumncrest, which is near Woodscreek Elementary School in Crystal Lake. I haven’t bought a GPS unit yet and drove through about three neighborhoods before I found the place.

Five cars were parked in front Greg Pyle's home. License plates were blurred on the two cars with front plates.

Approaching the home, I saw there were a lot of cars parked in front of on both sides of the street. The first of three across the street had no front license plate.

A Christmas tree is in the foreground near Greg Pyle's home. A white Illinois State Police van sits in the driveway. A Crystal Lake Policeman sat in his car out front.

Unlike the time when Pyle was being sought on a 10-count warrant for Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault, the Crystal Lake Police were involved today. There was a manned squad car sitting out front of Pyle’s home.

As of five o’clock, the investigators were still at the house.

Greg Pyle

My guess is that Chicago media will be reporting on the arrest of McHenry County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Greg Pyle on, maybe even before, Monday.

Ten counts of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault, according to Illinois State Police Spokesperson Monique Bond.

Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Gene Lowery told me that his Department was not involved.

I learned from State Police Public Information Officer Bond that the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office requested that state agency’s assistance.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s investigators and the State Police’s District 2 Investigative Division personnel led the way.

The allegations surfaced on Friday.

“It was very fluid here,” she said Sunday.

Bianchi could not be reached for comment.

As of early Sunday afternoon, the Northwest Herald was running with an unposted press release from Keith Nygren’s department. The NWH reports the press release says the cause for police involvement “domestic issue involving the officer and his family.”

That is at wide variance with what Woodstock Advocate‘s Gus Philpott has written.  See

• Widespread Search Underway
• “Hey, G.P.  Give It Up”
• Why is MCSD Keeping Mum?
• Greg Pyle – 10 Counts, Criminal Sexual Assault
• Open Letter to Nygren and Zinke
• What If Nygren Had Lost in 2008?

First Electric Newspaper weighed in with this article:

• Sheriff’s Sergeant Released on Bond

The new masthead of "Dirty Harry vs. Dirty Keith."

Also weighing in is Dave Bachmann, who has put his “Dirty Keith vs. Dirty Harry” blog back up…at least the part about Greg Pyle.  His masthead now says, “Again, “Dirty Keith Blog” Was On Target!”

• We’ve Got Em On the Run
• McHenry County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Greg Pyle — 10 Counts Criminal Sexual Assault??
• Again I was correct ALL ALONG!! “RERUN POST”

There are too many more articles which you might find of interest.

Also found on the internet is the following paragraph:

“In a recent interview with Detective Gregory Pyle of the McHenry County Sheriff’s department, I learned that approximately 1 in 5 children with full internet access were approached by a predator on the internet last year. Detective Pyle is a member of the Illinois Chapter of the ICAC, or Internet Crimes against Children Task Force. The task force is a subset of The Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Department of Justice. Education is the key according to Detective Pyle. Unfortunately they do not have the budget to educate everyone. This, I believe, is our Calling.”

Today McHenry County blog looks at March, 2011, billings from Quest International.

Quest is the company selected by McHenry County Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan in his unsuccessful quest to convict McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi of felony criminal offenses.

From left to right are Assistant Special Prosecutor Tom McQueen, Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan and Quest investigator Robert Scigalski. Photo credit: First Electric Newspaper.

Robert Seigalski, Lee Flosi, Patrick Hanretty, Gerald Theis, James P. Reilly and Dan Jerger bill the Special Prosecutors $135 per hour, except for some travel, which Scigalski notes he bills at $70 an hour. The others do not bill $70 for travel time.

Here are the billings for March of this year:

3-1-11 2 hours – Jerger: Prepared discovery materials. Verify and label copies of evidence for production.

3-2-11 3.5 hours – Jerger: Prepared discovery materials. Prepared, traveled to and returned from 901 Warrenville road, Suite 176, Lisle, IL 60532. Dropped off evidence CD’s to Mary Nash, assistant to Terry A. Ekl of Ekl Williams PLLC. Updated McQueen telephonically.

3-3-11 3.75 hours – Scigalski: Call to Nichole Owens / call to McQueen / work on subpoena requiring internal communications

3-5-11 4 hours – Scigalski: Work on subpoena compliance making sure all McHenry relevant emails & notes are gathered, copied and notebooked.

3-6-11 4 hours – Scigalski: Meeting at Tonigan’s office / review with T. Carroll

3-6-11 3 hours – Jerger: Prepared materials for discovery.

3-7-11 6 hours – Jerger: Prepared materials for discovery. Reviewed case details.

3-8-11 9 hours – Jerger: Prepared materials for discovery production. Prepared, traveled to, and returned from 102 South Wynstone Park Dr. Suite 100, North Barrington, Il 60010. Met with Judge Henry “Skip” Tonigan and Tom McQueen to discuss case updates and strategy.

3-9-11 10 hours – Jerger: Prepared materials for discovery. Reviewed case details

3-10-11 1.5 hours – Flosi – Served subpoena on Keith Chval, Clarendon Hills, IL

3-10-11 9 hours – Jerger: Prepared materials for discovery. Reviewed case details

3-11-11 1.5 hours – Flosi – Served subpoena on Ronald Weiss, Arlington Heights, IL.

3-11-11 4 hours – Jerger: Prepared discovery materials. Prepared, traveled to and returned from…Lisle…Dropped off T2 evidence tape and T4CD to Tracy Kreczmer with Ekl williams PLLC. Updated McQueen telephonically and email.

3-12-11 1 hour – Jerger: Reviewed case details.

3-13-11 4 hours – Scigalski: At Tonigan’s Office, Participate in interview/ trial prep of A. Dalby. Again, later meeting at Tonigan’s office with McQueen for interview of Ron Weiss/ email Ownes/ call to Rein.

3-13-11 – Jerger: Prepared, traveled to, and returned from…North Barrington. Met with Judge Henry “Skip” Tonigan and Tom McQueen to discuss case. Reviewed case materials.

3-14-11 2 hours – Scigalski: Prep for and conference call with Tonigan and Nicole Owens and with McQueen

3-14-11 8 hours – Jerger: Reviewed details in preparation for meeting with Tom McQueen.

3-15-11 8 hours – Jerger: Prepared, traveled to, and returned from…North Barrington. Met with Tom McQueen to discuss case. Reviewed case materials.

3-16-11 1 hour – Flosi – Attempted to locate Sgt. Harris for subpoena service.

3-16-11 5 hours – Jerger: Reviewed case details in preparation for trial.

3-17-11 8 hours – Scigalski: Continue work on trial materials. Continue review for confirmation of production of all reports and notes beyond original order.

3-17-11 5 hours – Jerger: Reviewed case details in preparation for trial.

3-18-11 7.5 hours – Scigalski: Review ints – Weiss, Sullivan & Rein / prep PDF’s & email/ contact and email McQueen/ Call to Mist. Sgt. J. Jarris/ Call Chval w email/ confirm Subpoena – Harris

3-18-11 1 hour – Flosi – Served subpoena on Sgt. Harris, c/o Dispatch Desk, Illinois State Police H.Q., 9511 W. Harrison, Des Plaines, IL.

3-18-11 5 hours – Jerger: Reviewed case details in preparation for trial.

3-19-11 2.5 hours – Scigalski: At HT’s [Henry Tonigan's] office- Meeting to debrief Carroll

3-19-11 8 hours – Jerger: Prepared, traveled to, and returned…from North Barrington. Met with Tom McQueen to discuss case. Reviewed case materials.

3-20-11 2.5 hours – Scigalski: At HT’s office – Meeting with McQueen to debrief Dalby

3-20-11 5 hours – Jerger: Reviewed case details in preparation for trial.

The defendants and defense teams leave the McHenry County Courthouse after adquittal is announced without the defense having put on any witnesses.

3-23-11 Bianchi, Synek Acquitted of All Charges

The grand total for the February and March, 2011, bill from Quest International was $46,875.04.

April tomorrow.

A press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department:

On Friday, July 22, 2011 members of

• the Crystal Lake Police Targeted Response Unit, in conjunction with
• the Illinois State Police North Central Narcotics Task Force and
• the McHenry County Sheriff’s Department,

executed a narcotics search warrant at 15 South Oriole Trail, Crystal Lake, IL.

The three month investigation indicated narcotics activity was present at the residence on a regular basis.

Cassidy Villarreal

As a result of the joint investigation and from items seized from the residence during the search warrant, 23 year old Cassidy Villarreal of 15 South Oriole Trail was arrested and charged with

• Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Class 4 Felony),
• Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver (Class 4 Felony),
• Unlawful Possession of Cannabis (Class A Misdemeanor),
• Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Class A Misdemeanor), and
• Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class A Misdemeanor).

Cassidy Villarreal was transported to the McHenry County Jail to await a bond hearing. Additional charges maybe pending as the investigation continues.

Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown thinks reporters might want to see what politicians and athletes own guns, that maybe "you might be interested in learnnig whether the parents of your kids' friends keep a gun in the home. Coming from a pro-gun control point-of-view, Brown has not envisioned the danger that might accrue to those identified as not having guns.

“No Guns Within”

That’s the sign that I’ve suggested those opposed to people being allowed to protect themselves with guns should stick in their front yards since I ran for State Comptroller in 1982.

Now Attorney General Lisa Madiagn’s Public Access Division has taken a step toward allowing burglars to learn houses it is likely to be safest to rob.

Her office has ruled that the names of those with Firearm Owners Identification cards should be made public.

While names would be made public, addresses won’t be.

It won’t take too long before some “public spirited” group will do a cross-match and come up with the addresses.

And post the results on the internet.

That list will be useful to crooks because they will know they should try robbing other homes in the neighborhood.

Ah, the unintended consequences of the actions of government.

I have a FOID card, by the way.

The Illinois State Police is planning to fight the disclosure.

Capitol Fax Blog will probably have a spirited discussion on the subject.

First it was prostitution arrests in Hampshire and Crystal Lake.

The Illinois State Police were called in.  Turns out it was the Illinois State Police North Central Narcotics Task Force.

The name plate outside the Crystal Lake prostitution arrest office read "The Healing Touch." Note that "East West Healing Touch" is not the name outside the door, although that was the apparent corporate entity.

When I asked for details, I got very few about the illegal activities at East West Healing Touch, 900 Pyott Road in the Crystal Lake office.

Ongoing investigation was the refusal reason.

Both women arrested were oriental.

Perhaps Chinese.

If so, this story about how Chinese illegals get

• to American without visas,
• arrested at O’Hare and
• detained at the McHenry County Jail

might be of interest.

The women, I was told by McHenry County’s chief jailer, have to work off the cost of the trip as prostitutes, while the men work in Chinese restaurants (not all such restaurants, of course).  I haven’t learned how they get out from behind the jail’s bars.

Sunday, I saw this article in the Northwest Herald about a prostitution arrest in McHenry.  Asian Massage Therapy, 323 N. Front St, the article, based on a police press release, said.

Last night I found out about a prostitution arrest in Algonquin in the Daily Herald. World Health Spa, 1445 W. Algonquin Road, a police official is quoted.

The Woodstock Massage Parlor (Photo Gus Philpott).

Also last night, the Northwest Herald noted another prostitution arrest, in Woodstock this time. Marigold Massage, 355 S. Eastwood Drive, the paper says.

When I asked for details about the Crystal Lake and Hampshire arrests, here’s the answer I got:

“The case is still being actively investigated and is an open investigation. The requested information is withheld per the freedom act’s provisions regarding

• interference with pending or actually and reasonably contemplated law enforcement proceedings conducted by any law enforcement or correctional agency (5ILCS 140/7(1)(d)(i),
• obstruct an ongoing criminal investigation (5ILCS 140/7(1)(d)(vii),
• private information (5ILCS 140/7(1)(b), and
• create a substantial likelihood that a person will be deprived of a fair trail or an impartial hearing (5ILCS 140/7(1)(d)(iii).”

“Pursuant to ISP media guidelines, the following information is provided:

“The Illinois State Police North Central Narcotics Task Force arrested Lan Rue He, female, age 31, 5801 Darlington Lake, Crystal Lake for Prostitution (11-14a Class A) on July 29, 2010 at 1:30 at 900 Pyott Road, Crystal Lake. Bond is $1,000 ($100 cash – 10%).”

Think this is going to end up going after those who invested in the enterprises?

Might the owners have some connection?

At the pre-election meeting of the McHenry County Republican Central Committee meeting, Sheriff Keith Nygren led the Pledge of Allegance to the Flag

After reprising the indictment of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi and Metra, which the Better Government Association says has been “long the domain of McHenry County Republicans,” in an article today.

“The State Police (has) launch(ed) an investigation into alleged corruption within the McHenry County sheriff’s office.”

“…nothing has been substantiated,” the article says.

“This is nonsense. We’re not even talking, goodbye,” Sheriff Keith Nygren told whoever called him from the BGA.

On Thursday, September 16, 2010, Crystal Lake Police and Illinois State Police Zone 1 conducted Alcohol Compliance Enforcement (ACE) checks on establishments that are licensed to sell alcoholic beverages within the City limits. During these A.C.E. details, undercover officers and cooperating underage minors visited 20 restaurants who serve alcoholic beverages, in an effort to determine if the licensees were in compliance.

Only two of the businesses conducted sales of alcoholic beverages to the minors during the operation. The businesses found in violation were

• Chili’s Grill & Bar located at 5620 Northwest Highway and
• Williams Street Tap located at 80 N. Williams Street.

The businesses found to be in compliance were

• Applebee’s (5690 Northwest Highway),
• Buffalo Wild Wings (5755 Northwest Highway),
• Chuck E. Cheese (5725 Northwest Highway),
• Outback Steakhouse (4751 Northwest Highway),
• Hooters (4812 Northwest Highway),
• Nick’s Pizza and Pub (856 Pyott Road),
• Coleman’s (7608 S. Virginia Road), Porter’s (446 Virginia Street),
• Rock’s 394 Virginia Street, Georgio’s Pizza (75 Woodstock Street),
• Finn McCool’s (72 N. Williams Street),
• Williams Street Public House (83 Williams Street),
• Brink Street Restaurant & Bar (85 Brink Street),
• Metro Bowl (77 Brink Street), The Cottage (6 E. Crystal Lake Avenue),
• Matt’s Tavern (92 Railroad Street),
• Duke’s (110 N. Main Street) and
• Labemi’s Tavern (109 N. Main Street).

With accidents as the leading cause of death among adolescent Americans, coupled with alcohol as the leading causative factor, the Crystal Lake Police Department strives to develop a partnership with local merchants to help them achieve the goal of zero sales to minors.

These Alcohol Compliance Enforcement checks are done randomly several times throughout the year with the assistance of the Illinois State Police. This detail is funded by a grant through the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The Leyden Township billboard tells "Johns" they could pay $2,150, if arrested for solicitation.

Going after the family vote, I suppose, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is conducting a highly publicized campaign against “Johns,” the customers of prostitutes.

It must be a bigger problem than in McHenry County.

The sign outside Suite 101 says, "The Healing Touch."

And, anyway the Illinois State Police raid on the massage parlor in the old Northwest Herald building next to Nick’s Pizza on Pyott Road was within the boundaries of Crystal Lake.

So, Sheriff Keith Nygren probably won’t follow Sheriff Dart’s billboard example.

But, State Police Colonel Rob Haley denied my Freedom of Information request for the police report on the arrest of Lan Rui He, age 31, who lived in an apartment on Darlington Lane, writing,

“The case is still being actively investigated and is an open investigation.  The requested information is withheld per the freedom act’s provisions regarding

• interference with pending or actually and reasonably contemplated law enforcement proceedings conducted by any law enforcement or correctional agency (5ILCS 140/7(1)(d)(i),
• obstruct an ongoing criminal investigation (5ILCS 140/7(1)(d)(vii),
• private information (5ILCS 140/7(1)(b), and
• create a substantial likelihood that a person will be deprived of a fair trail or an impartial hearing (5ILCS 140/7(1)(d)(iii).

He continues,

900 Pyott Road, Crystal Lake, where the prostitution arrest was made.

“Pursuant to ISP media guidelines, the following information is provided:

“The Illinois State Police North Central Narcotics Task Force arrested Lan Rue He, female, age 31, 5801 Darlington Lake,  Crystal Lake for Prostitution (11-14a Class A) on July 29, 2010 at 1:30 at 900 Pyott Road, Crystal Lake.  Bond is $1,000 ($100 cash – 10%).”

Here’s what the Northwest and Daily Heralds built major stories around, allowing newly-named Undersheriff Andy Zinke to launch a full-blown attack on McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi.

Personally, I found it intriguing that Sheriff Keith Nygren assigned him to the task, rather than making the harsh criticism himself.

Sitting next to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is Region 1 State Police Commander Terry Lemming.

It reminds me of how Rod Blagojevich would detail his campaign chairman to attack Jim Ryan during his 2002 gubernatorial campaign. Presumably such a tactic deflects negative reaction away from the person flinging it.

The launch pad for the attack was a five sentence letter from Region 1 Illinois State Police Commander Terry Lemming.

The text follows:

At your request, the Illinois State Police conducted an investigation to determine if officers from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office committed any criminal violations regarding an incident that occurred on Marcy 14, 2008, where Jerome and Carla Pavlin, as well as their son, Carl, were arrested.

Illinois State Police investigators interviewed all known witnesses with the exception of Jerome, Carla and Carl Pavlin. The Pavlin’s (sic) would not submit to an interview.

This investigation revealed no criminal acts were committed by your officers. Should you have any questions or learn of other information pertinent to this case, please contact me.

Commander Terry Lemming
Illinois State Police
Region 1 Commander

But there is an obvious problem with the letter revealed on McHenry County Blog here.

One uniformed witness was not approached for an interview. Sheriff’s Deputy Zane Seipler was listening over the radio to the incident involving the Pavlins, but the State Police investigators did not interview him.