McHenry County Blog

The biggest headline I have even seen in the Northwest Herald.

As you can see, the Northwest Herald scooped other media on the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s having concluded that former McHenry Policeman Dale Hojnacki “may have tampered with narcotics evidence.”

The paper even published a copy of the letter to Jamie Rein, President of the McHenry County Bar Association.

The added value that McHenry County Blog can offer is an internet searchable copy of that letter, which you see below. It came as one long paragraph, which I have separated into one-sentence paragraphs in order to make it easier to read.

Jamie Rein May 1, 2012
President McHenry County Bar Association
110 South Johnson Street, Suite 211
Woodstock, IL 60098

Re: McHenry Police Officer Dale Hojnacki

Dear Ms. Rein,

I need to inform you of potentially exculpatory evidence involving all arrests made by the McHenry Police Department.

I will be filing a supplemental discovery motion in every case involving an arrest by the McHenry police department, but I want to make sure that you are aware of potential evidentiary problems and I would respectfully request that you share this information with all bar members.

Recently, Officer Dale Hojnacki resigned from the McHenry police department.

His resignation was prompted by an internal investigation which resulted in his being accused of stealing United States Currency from an evidence locker.

Officer Hojnacki has been charged with multiple counts of the felony offenses of theft and official misconduct (12CF352) for that conduct.

A subsequent investigation has revealed that Officer Hojnacki may have tampered with narcotics evidence. The McHenry police department has reason to believe that Officer Hojnacki has been opening sealed evidence bags and removing narcotics.

An audit will be performed by an outside agency and I expect to have the results by the end of June. The results of the audit will be sent to you at a later date.

While he is presumed innocent of all charges and allegations, evidence of his alleged misconduct may be admissible in cases involving arrests by the McHenry police department because of the potential for a violation of chain of custody involving evidence.

I am sending this correspondence pursuant to my obligation under Brady because I believe that Officer Hojnacki’s conduct has potentially compromised the evidence against any person who has been arrested by the McHenry police department.

Please contact me directly at 815-334-4936 with any questions or concerns. I will contact you at a later date when I have more information.

Respectfully,

Michael Combs
Chief, Criminal Division

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

McHENRY RESIDENT SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS TO THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR AGGRAVATED DUI

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney announces that on March 27, 2012, Defendant, Sandra Brazlawski was sentenced to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the offense of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.

The Defendant was arrested by the McHenry Police Department for DUI in July 3, 2011.

Further investigation into her driving history revealed multiple prior convictions for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol under two different names.

The case was investigated by Officer Harris of the McHenry Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney David Johnston.

A smoky Randall Road looking north toward the big American Flag on the cellular tower at the Crystal Lake Waste Treatment Plant.

The McHenry Police Department tells us why:

SMOKE IN THE AIR

Be advised the cause of the smoke and smell is due to a huge forest fire in MN that is getting into the main air stream and bringing the smoke into our area. There is more info that will follow as we get it.

= = = = =
Well, that clears that question up.

A view of the Crystal Lake American Flag from Lake in the Hills on a clear da.

A press release from the McHenry Police Department:

McHenry Police Conduct Compliance Checks on synthetic drugs

sold in McHenry businesses

During the week of May 31st 2011, Investigators with the McHenry Police Department visited retail businesses within the City of McHenry in an effort to educate business owners, managers and employees about new Illinois law governing the possession and sale of specific illegal synthetic drugs and synthetic drugs that can be identified as controlled substance analogs.

During the course of this detail, Investigators visited twenty-two businesses within McHenry. Owners, managers and employees were educated on the new Illinois law during each visit.

In January of 2011 Illinois law makers identified two specific strands of these synthetic drugs and made them illegal to sell, possess and consume.

These two strands are commonly known as “K2” and “Spice” and carry the illegal drugs JWH-018 and JWH-073.

Furthermore law makers passed a law making it illegal to possess a controlled substance analog.

An analog is a sythetic drug that is either similar in chemical structure or produces a similar effect as a known controlled substance when consumed.

Within the last five months the McHenry City Police have responded to and investigated three separate medical emergency incidents in which four subjects had to be medically treated after inhaling a synthetic drug.

These medical emergencies have become a concern.

Many people believe that these synthetic drugs are not harmful and it is ok to use them.

This is not true.

It is unknown what the medical side effects of synthetic drugs are at this time, but people using these drugs have had reactions that require medical attention.

Business owners have been educated and made aware of the enforcement efforts on behalf of the McHenry City Police.

McHenry City Police will continue to conduct compliance checks with businesses and follow up on investigations that are linked to the illegal possession, use and sale of controlled substances and controlled substance analogs. The McHenry City Police are committed to educating the community and informing the public of the risks that surround the use of these illegal synthetic drugs.

Those with questions or concerns about the use of synthetic drugs are welcome to contact the McHenry Police for further information.

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

McHENRY MAN SENTENCED TO 13 YEARS FOR
ARMED VIOLENCE CHARGE

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announces that thirty-one year old Luis Gaytan, of McHenry, was sentenced today to 13 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the class X felony offense of Armed Violence following a negotiated guilty plea.

A McHenry City Police Department investigation revealed that on June 23, 2010, a stabbing occurred at the Garden Quarters apartment complex in the city of McHenry.

Witnesses described observing an argument between the thirty-four year old victim and the defendant.

The argument became physical, and the victim was ultimately stabbed several times by the defendant.

A witness described the defendant as intoxicated and that he had been drinking all day prior to the incident.

The defendant stated to police officers that the victim had offended him, and that the defendant wanted to teach the victim a lesson.

This case was investigated by Det. Hojnacki of the McHenry City Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Ryan Blackney.

A press release from McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren:

It’s Official: McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Receives CALEA Accreditation

Chinese young political leaders toured the McHenry County Jail.

Sheriff Keith Nygren is pleased to announce that the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office has received Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The Sheriff’s Office received their accreditation on Saturday, March 26, 2011, at the CALEA conference in Bethesda, MD.

In order to be considered for accreditation the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office had to demonstrate compliance with 464 individual standards.

Those standards ensure that an agency is operating according to a best practices model established by CALEA. CALEA’s stated goals for accreditation are to:

• Strengthen Crime Prevention and Control Capabilities
• Improve Service Delivery
• Solidify interagency cooperation and coordination; and
• Increase community and staff confidence in the agency

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office is one of three Sheriff’s Offices, in Illinois, accredited by CALEA.

It is also the third McHenry County agency who has received accreditation. The other two are McHenry PD and Huntley PD.

Sheriff Nygren wishes to thank the community for their support to the Sheriff’s Office throughout this process.

They can be assured that accreditation represents the ongoing commitment to maintaining an excellent relationship with the community we serve, and our commitment to providing the best possible service to the citizens of McHenry County.

This press release has come from the McHenry Police Department:

Over 100 Vehicles damaged in the early morning hours of November 3, 2010

During the early morning hours of Wednesday November 3rd, 2010 the McHenry Police Department began to receive reports of multiple broken vehicle windows.

Further investigation resulted in the investigation of over 100 separate Criminal Damage To Property calls for broken windows on vehicles that were left parked overnight in driveways.

The locations of the incidents appear to be random at this time as they are throughout the McHenry area.

If anyone has any information on this or any crime please contact the McHenry Police Department at 815/363-2200 or the McHenry Police Tipline at 815/363-2124.

Ward 1 Alderman Victor Santi

Ward 3 Alderman Jeffrey Schaefer

After an extensive debate with no public input because a public hearing had been previously held, three McHenry Aldermen and one Alderwoman voted to raise the city sales tax rate 50%.

The rate will go from the current 1% to 1.5% starting on New Year’s Day.  The higher tax is estimated to provide $975,000 for next year’s budget. The difference between the $1.5 million to be raised and the $975,000 to be used to finance next year’s operations will provide a cushion for future years.

Ward 7 Alderwoman Geri Condon

Ward 2 Alderman Andrew Glab

Increasing the McHenry city sales tax 50% were

• Victor Santi – Ward 1
• Jeffrey Schaefer – Ward 3
• Richard Wimmer – Ward 5 (not pictured)
• Geri Condon – Ward 7

Wimmer made the motion to approve the tax hike.

Santi seconded it.

Ward 6 Alderman Robert Peterson

Ward 4 Alderman Geoffrey Blake

Opposing the sales tax hike were

• Andrew Glab – Ward 2
• Geoffrey Blake – Ward 4


McHenry Mayor Sue Low

• Richard Peterson – Ward 6

Mayor Sue Low did not vote.

Unlike Crystal Lake Mayor Aaron Shepley, who led his council 6-1 (Jeff Thorsen being the only “No” vote), this 50% sales tax hike will be difficult to pin on her.

Spectators were not allowed to enter the council chambers without emptying their pockets, having their bags searched and being wanded by McHenry Police.

The first man to offer public comment said the following:

Checking a citizen for weapons before entering the McHenry City Council Chambers.

Man complaining of police search before entry to the tax hike meeting.

“I thoroughly object to having two police (search those coming to the council meeting).

“We have a police chief here with a handgun.  I’m sure he’s capable of putting down (any problem).

“Surrounding villages do not have it.

“Crystal Lake doesn’t have policemen.

“Neither does Woodstock.

“The biggest thing Elgin has is two posts people have to walk through”

Ror the second time this week, McHenry Police are reporting cars are being robbed:

McHenry City Police Investigate additional Burglaries to Motor Vehicles

In the early morning hours of Friday June 11, 2010 the McHenry City Police investigated three burglaries from motor vehicles.

The vehicles were located in the 3300 Block of Chestnut and the 2000 Block of Hemlock.

This is the second occurrence in which vehicles were burglarized this week.  

The Lakeland Park Subdivision had vehicles burglarized on 6/7/2010.

It is unknown if these incidents are related.  Residents are urged to remove valuables from their vehicles and to lock the vehicle doors.

If anyone has information on these incidents please call the McHenry City Police Department @ 815/363-2200.