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Archive for the ‘Marengo Illinois’ Category
Marengo Illinois Police Officer Courtney Miller Enters Not Guilty Plea After Her Arrest In Winnebago County For Drunk Driving
March 2nd, 2007
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS ? A Marengo police officer has pleaded not guilty to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and will next appear in court March 13.
Courtney Miller, 32, entered her plea Wednesday before Winnebago County Judge Richard Lucas, according to the Winnebago County state?s attorney?s office.
Miller, a Marengo police officer since December 2005, was stopped by the Illinois State Police at 3:44 a.m. Feb. 6 in Rockford at Main Street (Route 2) and Auburn Street.
She was off-duty at the time, and city property was not involved.
Miller has been on paid administrative leave from the department since Feb. 7, pending the results of an investigation.
She was the third McHenry County law-enforcement official to be charged with drunken driving in a month.
Both of the other law-enforcement officials to be charged have since lost their jobs. Troy Wise, a McHenry County prosecutor, was fired Feb. 15, a day after he crashed his car into a utility pole.
Read MoreMarengo Illinois Police Officer Courtney Miller Arrested, Suspended, Charged With DUI - Third McHenry County Law Enforcement Official Charged With Drunk Driving In The Last Month
February 23rd, 2007
MARENGO, ILLINOIS ? A Marengo police officer has become the third McHenry County law-enforcement official to be charged with drunken driving in the past month.
Patrol officer Courtney Miller, 32, is scheduled to appear Wednesday afternoon in Winnebago County Circuit Court.
She was stopped by the Illinois State Police at 3:44 a.m. Feb. 6 in Rockford at Main Street (Route 2) and Auburn Street.
No additional information about the arrest was available from the state police.
Miller did not respond to a request for comment through her attorneys, Sreenan & Cain of Rockford.
Marengo Police Chief Les Kottke confirmed Thursday that Miller was put on paid administrative leave Feb. 7 pending an investigation. He said the arrest occurred while the officer was off-duty and did not involve any city property.
Miller has been with the department since December 2005.
Read MoreMcHenry County Illinois Assistant State’s Attorney Troy Wise Fired After Drunken Crash Into Utility Pole East Of Marengo
February 16th, 2007
WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS - An assistant McHenry County state?s attorney was fired Thursday, a day after he crashed his car into a utility pole and was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.
Troy Wise, 42, of Woodstock, was released from the McHenry County Jail on Thursday after posting $100 and his driver?s license for bail. He is scheduled to appear in court March 2.
McHenry County sheriff?s police said Wise crashed his 2006 Pontiac G6 into a utility pole along on Route 176, just east of Marengo about 11 p.m. Wednesday.
Wise was the only passenger in the car and was taken to Woodstock Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries, police said.
At the hospital, he refused to submit to a blood draw, McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said. Wise, however, did agree to a Breathalyzer test about four hours after the accident at the sheriff?s department, in which he blew above the legal limit of .08, Nygren said. The sheriff declined to release the exact test results.
Read MoreMarengo Illinois Sued For $18.5 Million By Victim Of Police Beating Caught On Videotape - Man Beaten By Marengo Police Officer David Mahlke And Illinois State Police Special Agents William Kroncke To “Send A Message” To Another Man Who Was Present To Report Yet Another Case Of Marengo Police Brutality
October 15th, 2006
MARENGO, ILLINOIS ? A man shown on a 2004 police surveillance video being shoved face first into a wall at the Marengo police station filed a $18.5 million federal civil lawsuit this week against the city, a former police officer and two Illinois State Police agents.
[ MBCN: From A Related Article: "When he came into the police station (Hedio) turned to me and said don't talk to the cops without a lawyer and (officer) punched him the face," claims Gaughan.]
The lawsuit, filed by Marengo resident Orest Hedio, claims officers from the two agencies beat him unconscious to ?send a message? to a teenager watching the incident.
?Orest was just a pawn in their conspiracy to intimidate that young man,? Hedio attorney Albert Wysocki said Thursday.
Illinois Police Officer David Mahlke Promoted To Wonder Lake Police Chief Dispite Videotaped Beating - Nobody At The Helm In Wonder Lake’s Local Government???
October 13th, 2006
MARENGO, ILLINOIS — Police officers and alleged brutality are caught on tape and somehow one of the officers ended up getting promoted to police chief.
Suburban Marengo and Wonder Lake are making headlines this week after a video of alleged police brutality surfaced and one of the officers reportedly on the tape gets promoted to police chief.
Once a Marengo police officer, since-promoted Wonder Lake Police Chief David Mahlke and two other officers are being named in a lawsuit
In November of 2004, Orest Hedio said he was knocked out by an Illinois State Police special agent.
“He drops like a wet mop, rendered immediately unconscious,” said the plaintiff’s lawyer, Albert Wysocki.
According Wysocki, Hedio is then dragged unconscious in to a holding cell, where he lay for 45 minutes. It would take more than four hours before he received medical attention.
Illinois State Police Investigators William Kroncke And Virgiil Schroeder Added To Lawsuit After Torture Of Witness To Marengo Illinois Police Officer Scott Crawford’s Brutality
October 4th, 2006
MARENGO, ILLNOIS - Two brothers who accused a police officer in Marengo of using excessive force during an October 2004 arrest have added two Illinois State Police investigators to their federal civil rights lawsuit.
Brian and Kevin Gaughan accused the investigators of conspiring to bring false charges against them.
The lawsuit also alleges State Police Special Agent William Kroncke and Investigator Virgil Schroeder physically and verbally abused Kevin Gaughan, 20, to try to get him to recant the brutality accusations the brothers had made against Marengo police.
Read MoreNote: There is some very, very disturbing news concerning William Kroncke about to surface. It will be featured here in the very near future. You may find it here first, if local media continues to be intimidated by law enforcement officials and doesn’t bother to verify (It only takes one phone call, act like real reporters.) and break the information.
Illinois State Police Investigators, William Kroncke And Virgil Schroeder, Added To Marengo Illinois Police Brutality Lawsuit After Resorting To Police Brutality Against Witness Of Police Brutality, During Police Brutality Investigation
October 4th, 2006
MARENGO, ILLINOIS – Two Illinois State Police investigators resorted to physical and mental brutality as they tried to persuade a man to recant accusations of excessive brutality that he and his brother had made against Marengo police, a revised federal lawsuit alleges.
The revision to the civil-rights lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago, nearly two years after brothers Brian and Kevin Gaughan alleged that former Marengo police officer Scott Crawford used excessive force during an arrest for trespassing on Oct. 8, 2004.
The amended complaint adds as defendants state police Special Agents William Kroncke and Virgil Schroeder, who were assigned to investigate the allegations of excessive force.
Note: There is some very, very disturbing news concerning William Kroncke about to surface. It will be featured here in the very near future. You may find it here first, if local media continues to be intimidated by law enforcement officials and doesn’t bother to verify (It only takes one phone call, act like real reporters.) and break the information.
Leaving No Stone Unturned In Marengo Illinois - Police Beating Caught On Tape, Ignored By Scared Media
July 8th, 2006
MARENGO, ILLINOIS - This week, both CBS and the Northwest Herald were given very interesting information. A tape of a State Police officer punching, yelling, slapping, and intimidating people in the Marengo Police Department was handed to them, as well as an interview with Brian Gaughan Sr., and Kevin Gaughan concerning the events on the tape. But because of threats of lawsuits from State Police lawyers, CBS producers decided to show a watered down version of what they originally planned.
They neither mentioned the State Police officer?s name, William Kroncke, nor described in detail what happened on the tape that they ran. The Northwest Herald was even more cowardly, refusing to run an article already written and planned for Friday morning due to fears of lawsuits by the State Police and pressure by the State?s Attorney?s Office. The article that did come out on Saturday morning was not much more than a watered down version of the original. It even had a quote on top implying that the State Police did not believe the video was what it seemed.
Read MoreCall For Action - Marengo Illinois - Marengo Police and Illinois State Police Free To Beat And Intimidate Anyone, While All Other Officials Look The Other Way
July 7th, 2006
MARENGO, ILLINOIS ? We really need your help here. I would like whoever is reading this to write to Lisa Madigan, Attorney General for the state of Illinois, as soon as possible in order to have them look into this situation with the Marengo Police Department and the McHenry County State?s Attorney?s Office for the way they have handled the issue with the police and people who have had false charges brought against them.
To explain a little of the situation here in Marengo Illinois, back in October of 04, the Gaughan brothers Kevin and Brian were at a carnival when a police officer, Scott Crawford, falsely arrested them. The cop in question badly beat up Brian Gaughan while he was in handcuffs and put his face through the police station wall. When the younger brother Kevin went up to his brother, he was arrested as well. To cover up the actions of Officer Crawford, serious charges were brought up against the two brothers, including aggravated assault.
Read MoreMan Goes To Marengo Illinois Police Department To File Brutality Complaint Against Officer Scott Crawford, Instead He Is Intimidated Into Signing False Statement After State Police Special Agent And Marengo Police Officer Beat Another Man And Knock Him Out
July 1st, 2006
MARENGO, ILLINOIS “They brought in another person and knocked him out right in front of me and told me that I was going to be next,” says Kevin Gaughan while describing what he says happened at the Marengo Police Department.
VIDEO HERE
Gaughan was 19-years-old in 2004 when he says he thought he was at the police department to give a statement about police brutality. Instead, Gaughan says he was intimidated by police and that it was caught on a police department security camera videotape that is now being made public through litigation.
Gaughan says police tried to get him to change his story involving earlier police brutality allegations he made targeting Marengo police officer Scott Crawford. Kevin Gaughan and his brother, Brian, say Crawford used excessive force against them in 2004 during an altercation at a local festival. Gaughan’s attorney says they are two of at least five people who have come forward alleging abuse by Scott Crawford.
Gaughn hoped an outside agency, the Illinois State Police (ISP), would investigate their claims.
Marengo Illinois Police And Illinois State Police Special Agent Intimidation And Beating Caught On Tape
July 1st, 2006
MARENGO, ILLINOIS ? A man who was in custody at the Marengo Police Department two years ago claimed that he was struck by officers from the state police and the city police department.
Orest Hedio was in police custody in 1994 and allowed to enter an interrogation room. The 45-year-old Marengo man then was punched and kicked as a means to intimidate Kevin Gaughan, according to allegations made by Heido’s attorney, Al Wisocki.
Gaughan, then 19-years-old, was in the police station to file a police misconduct complaint against former Marengo police officer Scott Crawford. Gaughan alleged police tried to intimidate him so he would not pursue a complaint and eventual lawsuit against Crawford, who resigned from the Marengo Police Department in August.
‘Leading Newspaper’, The Northwest Herald, Scared to Tell the Truth About Marengo Illinois Police, Illinois State Police
June 30th, 2006
MARENGO, ILLINOIS - A few nights ago on the news, it was mentioned that The Northwest Herald would have a complete story on the videotape of State Police Officer Kroncke hitting a prisoner in handcuffs and knocking him out for almost an hour. Kroncke also repeatedly slapped Kevin Gaughan, who was there to file a complaint against Marengo police officer Scott Crawford.
This was all caught on tape. It took over a year for the courts to release the tape to the Gaughans under a subpoena. Now, this tape and an exclusive interview with the Gaughans was given to both CBS, channel 2 and the NW Herald. Viewers all across Illinois, and indeed, the country, would be allowed to see acts of police brutality that were shocking and demand action.
Read MoreVeteran Marengo Illinois police officer Kelly Given resigns instead of facing disciplinary hearing
May 5th, 2006
MARENGO, ILLINOIS ? Marengo police officer Kelly Given has resigned before a scheduled disciplinary hearing, officials confirmed Wednesday.
Given was set to go before the Marengo Fire and Police Commission on Tuesday on departmental charges.
Deputy Chief Joe Hallman said the hearing was canceled this week because of Given’s resignation late last month.
“Once she left, it was a moot point,” he said.
Given did not return a call for comment Wednesday.
Given, in addition to the city, former Marengo police officer Scott Crawford, and former Marengo Chief Larry Mason, are defendants in a multimillion-dollar civil-rights lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed by Nichole Surber and five others, seeks at least $1.5 million for each of six plaintiffs. It alleges that Given and Crawford hurt Surber when they sat on her during an underage-drinking arrest at a Marengo High School football game in 2004. Surber was 16 at the time of the incident.
Marengo Illinois Police Officer Kelly Given May Lose Job Over Lawsuit Against Her, City, And Officer Scott Crawford For Abusing Teens
April 18th, 2006
MARENGO, ILLINOIS ? The partner of a former Marengo police officer who resigned amid claims he abused teenage suspects could soon be out of a job herself.
Marengo?s Police and Fire Commission is scheduled to meet May 9 to decide the fate of Officer Kelly Given, one of two central figures in a civil-rights lawsuit against the city?s police force.
Given has been on leave from the department for more than three months as officials have looked into allegations she leaked internal police reports to the public.
Mark Gummerson, the lawyer for Police Chief Les Kottke, confirmed that Given?s fate would be a topic of the meeting, but declined to discuss specifics of the case against Given.
Her attorney, Jeffrey Burke, did not return a phone call for comment.
Read MoreMarengo Illinois Suspends Bad Police Officer Kelly Given For Leaked Police Reports - Named In Pending Multi-Million Dollar Civil Rights Lawsuit
January 27th, 2006
MARENGO, ILLINOIS - The Marengo police department has suspended an officer named in a multi-million-dollar civil rights lawsuit pending an investigation into leaked police reports.
Although police now are staying mum on why officer Kelly Given was placed on paid administrative leave, Chief Les Kottke briefly confirmed the reason Tuesday before deferring further comment to legal counsel.
“She was put on paid administrative leave [in] reference [to] some reports that might have left the building inappropriately, illegally or otherwise,” Kottke said.
Although Kottke did not describe the reports, a Northwest Herald article on Jan. 15 cited juvenile arrest reports that contradicted some of the accusations made by 17-year-old Nichole Surber, one of six plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in August. The paper obtained the police reports, which were verified as authentic by the department, from a confidential source.
Read MoreBad McHenry County Illinois Judge Joseph Condon Refuses To Appoint Special Prosecutor, Despite Videotape Of Marengo Police And Illinois State Police Intimidation Of One Man And Beating Of Another In The Same Room
January 13th, 2006
WOODSTOCK, ILLINOIS ? A judge ruled Wednesday that he would not appoint a special prosecutor to investigate whether state, county and Marengo police officers conspired to persuade a Marengo man to drop police-misconduct allegations that he made.
McHenry County Judge Joseph Condon said he did not believe that he had the authority to order the Illinois attorney general’s office to start an investigation of two Illinois state police investigators, a Marengo police officer, and a McHenry County sheriff’s detective, which one defense attorney had requested.
“I tend to agree with the state that the judiciary does not have the authority to appoint a special prosecutor,” Condon said.
$66 million federal lawsuit against City of Marengo and Police Chief and Police Officers Schott Crawford and Kelly Given claims police used excessive force in Marengo Illinois
August 17th, 2005
MARENGO, ILLINOIS ? A federal lawsuit seeking $66 million was filed this week accusing police in a northeast Illinois city of a list of offenses, including police brutality.
Six plaintiffs filed the 44-count lawsuit that names the city of Marengo, the community’s former police chief and two officers — Scott Crawford and Kelly Given.Two of the plaintiffs, Brian Gaughan, 22, of Marengo, and Kevin Gaughan, 19, of DeKalb, accuse Crawford of using excessive force when he attempted to cite one of them in 2004 for trespassing near the police station.Four minors joined the Gaughan brothers in the lawsuit filed Monday in Chicago.
Neither of the officers nor the former police chief named in the lawsuit could be reached for comment Tuesday. Marengo’s current police chief, Les Kottke, declined to comment on the lawsuit.
The lawyer who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the plaintiffs singled out Crawford for criticism.
Read MoreMarengo Illinois Police Officer Scott Crawford “On A Rampage” Since His Hiring, Victims File $9 Million Federal Lawsuit Against City of Marengo Illinois, Police Chief Larry Mason, And Police Officers Scott Crawford and Kelly Given
August 16th, 2005
MARENGO, ILLINOIS ? A Marengo police officer has been on a rampage since being hired by the department two years ago, a federal lawsuit alleges.
Six plaintiffs, four of whom are under the age of 18, filed suit in U.S. District Court for Northern Illinois on Monday against police officer Scott Crawford, 27; former Marengo Police Chief Larry Mason; Crawford’s partner Kelly Given, and the city of Marengo.
The civil suit alleges Crawford on several occasions beat suspects while they were in handcuffs, and that he would claim the suspects were resisting arrest. His allegations led to felony charges being filed against many of the alleged victims.
“[Crawford] is clearly unfit to be a police officer,” said Kevin O’Reilly, the plaintiffs’ lawyer.
Five People Preparing To File Lawsuits Against Maringo Illinois And Police Officer Scott Crawford
August 5th, 2005
MARENGO, ILLINOIS ? Five people are prepared to bring a federal civil-rights lawsuit against embattled police officer Scott Crawford and the city of Marengo, a Chicago lawyer said Thursday.
The complaints will range from negligent hiring by the city to the use of excessive force, malicious prosecution, false arrest, and battery at the officer’s hands, attorney Kevin E. O’Reilly said.
The lawsuit will name brothers Brian and Kevin Gaughan, 22 and 19; Steve Beisner, 17; Zachary McMackin, 17; and Nichole Surber, 16, as complainants, O’Reilly said, and might include others.
“You don’t usually get this many claims against the same person in a small town like Marengo,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything as bad as this.”
With the exception of Kevin Gaughan of ******, each of O’Reilly’s clients lives in Marengo. All claim to have been roughed up, beaten or unnecessarily doused with chemical irritant by Crawford.
Read MoreMarengo Illinois Police Officer Scott Crawford’s Records Kept Secret After Police Brutaility Incident - Marengo Police Claim They Did Not Know Crawford Resigned From Waukegan Police Department After Videotaped Beating Of 18 Year Old There
August 3rd, 2005
MARENGO, ILLINOIS ? The police commission that will decide the fate of an officer facing several accusations of misconduct and abuse reviewed his confidential records behind closed doors for more than an hour Tuesday night and decided they will stay secret and won?t factor into their decision.
The hearing for suspended Marengo police officer Scott Crawford will take place in two weeks, and during that time the department seeking to fire him will be evaluating what the ruling against their request for the records means for their case, Deputy Chief Joseph Hallman said.
Brothers Brian Gaughan, 21, and Kevin, 18, have accused Crawford of abuse after being arrested by him on felony charges including battery, and the outcome of this hearing could affect their cases. A representative of the McHenry County state?s attorney?s office was on hand to see what happens with the officer, who would serve as a witness against the brothers.
Read MoreMarengo Illinois Police Department Has History Of Hiring Officers Who Couldn’t Cut It Elsewhere, Including Officer Scott Crawford
July 26th, 2005
MARENGO, ILLINOIS ? When John Zitek picked up a newspaper last year and read about the beating of a Marengo police officer in a DuPage County jail, he was flabbergasted.
It wasn’t the gruesome details that knocked him off his feet, he said, but the words “police officer” printed before Joseph Sangirardi’s name.
“I was dumbfounded that somebody would hire somebody without checking their background,” said Zitek, chief of Stickney Police Department. “After all, they’re going to be carrying a gun and a badge.”
Stickney’s Police and Fire Commission fired Sangirardi in 1999 for insubordination and threatening a local businessman, court documents said.
Zitek said Friday that no one contacted the Stickney Police Department to check Sangirardi’s background before Sangirardi was hired at the Marengo Police Department in 2001.
The Marengo department and its former leaders have come under scrutiny recently, as the checkered past of a different officer, Scott Crawford, came to light.
Read MoreInvestigation Into Police Station Beating, Assault And Intimidation By Illinois State Police Special Agents After Marengo Illinois Police Brutality By Officer Scott Crawford
July 14th, 2005
MARENGO, ILLINOIS ? An investigation has begun into whether the Illinois State Police acted appropriately while looking into an excessive force complaint against a Marengo police officer, according to a letter signed by state police Director Larry Trent.
Marengo suspended the officer on unrelated charges last month, and is asking for him to be fired. The original investigation into excessive force began in October 2004 after officer Scott Crawford arrested two brothers for offenses including aggravated battery and resisting arrest after a scuffle at Marengo?s annual Settlers? Day festival.
That investigation cleared Crawford about a month later, but led to the felony indictments of Brian Gaughan, 21, and his brother Kevin, 18, for filing false police reports.
The Gaughan family has questioned the impartiality and validity of that investigation because they said it ignored potential witnesses and a history of complaints against the officer. Crawford, 26, resigned from the Waukegan Police Department in 2002 amid allegations of excessive force that included a videotaped beating of an 18-year-old drunken driving suspect, according to documents obtained by the Daily Herald.
Read MoreMarengo Illinois Police Officer Scott Crawford, Videotaped Beating Man, Faces More Allegations In His Illinois “Reign Of Terror”
July 12th, 2005
MARENGO, ILLINOIS ? Some teens are claiming a suburban cop is abusing the badge — and they point to a videotape to prove he doesn’t protect and serve, he only pounds and punches.
A police officer is caught on camera repeatedly hitting a man. It’s a CBS 2 exclusive, and the tape is surfacing tonight after more alleged victims have come forward. CBS 2 investigative reporter Dave Savini reveals accusations of an out of control cop.
An officer is caught on tape striking a handcuffed man in the back of his police car. A neighbor records the blows, which eventually stop when the Waukegan cop, Officer Scott Crawford, realizes he’s been spotted.
The alleged excessive force victim sued and Officer Crawford resigned during an internal police investigation into his conduct. But the videotape of the 2001 Waukegan case is finally surfacing now. Now that Crawford is a cop again in Marengo, Illinois facing similar allegations.
“I couldn’t breathe. I thought I was suffocating,” Nichole Surber said.
“Out Of Control” Illinois Police Officer Scott Crawford Videotaped In Beating Faces More Allegations In “Reign of Terror” - Long Line Of Victims Behind Scott Crawford
July 5th, 2005
MARENGO, ILLINOIS ? Some teens are claiming a suburban cop is abusing the badge — and they point to a videotape to prove he doesn’t protect and serve, he only pounds and punches.
A police officer is caught on camera repeatedly hitting a man. It’s a CBS 2 exclusive, and the tape is surfacing tonight after more alleged victims have come forward. CBS 2 investigative reporter Dave Savini reveals accusations of an out of control cop.
An officer is caught on tape striking a handcuffed man in the back of his police car. A neighbor records the blows, which eventually stop when the Waukegan cop, Officer Scott Crawford, realizes he’s been spotted.
The alleged excessive force victim sued and Officer Crawford resigned during an internal police investigation into his conduct. But the videotape of the 2001 Waukegan case is finally surfacing now. Now that Crawford is a cop again in Marengo, Illinois facing similar allegations.
Read MoreMarengo Illinois Deputy Police Chief Files Three-Count Complaint Against Bad Cop Scott Crawford
June 30th, 2005
MARENGO, ILLNIOIS – Marengo Deputy Chief of Police Joseph Hallman filed a three-count complaint against patrol officer Scott Crawford with the Marengo Board of Fire and Police Commissioners June 15.
The counts deal with several issues, ranging from Crawford allegedly violating department policy while being involved in a high-speed chase, to Crawford creating a hostile working environment for a fellow officer, and failing to disclose pertinent information on his employment application.
The complaint alleges violations of Marengo Police Department policy and seeks termination or suspension of Crawford. He immediately was suspended without pay pending a hearing by the board.
The Marengo Board of Fire and Police Commissioners has set the complaint hearing for Thursday, June 30.