House surrounded; weapons drawn

Last Tuesday, a week ago, a McHenry County resident called me in shock (alarmed and disturbed, maybe?) by the visit of law enforcement officers to her residence near Island Lake. Her 18-year-old daughter was home and asleep, when there was a loud pounding on the front door. She told me that her daughter looked out and saw one officer at the door and four in the yard. A neighbor later told her that there were 5-6 squad cars there and that law enforcement officers in full tactical gear had surrounded her house and had their weapons drawn.

One of the officers (deputies?) demanded to know where the girl's mother was. He was reported as not being polite. He left a card with a name and a phone number on it with orders for her mother to call Deputy Garza at the McHenry County Sheriff's Department. When the mother called later, she did not encounter a friendly, helpful deputy.

The cop team was there to serve a warrant for the arrest of the mother, whose dastardly crime against society was to fail to complete a payment plan for traffic tickets back in 2007. She told me that she had been stopped for not wearing her seatbelt properly (in the Island Lake cop's opinion) and that she was surprised to learn that her driver's license had expired, so she had been ticketed for that, too. This was in Island Lake.

The Island Lake officer had told her to go to the branch of the McHenry County Traffic Court located in McHenry, which she did. On the correct date she waited through the entire court call, and the judge then asked her why she was sitting there. He looked at the ticket and told her she was supposed to be in the traffic court in Woodstock, and a date for her appearance there was arranged. When she got to that appearance, she waited through the entire court call, and again her case was not called. A prosecutor was rounded up, and they negotiated a plea. She began making payments on her payment plan.

Sometime after that, a ComEd truck totaled her vehicle, and her payment plan was in the glove box of the car and went to the junkyard with her car. In the hassle of trying to settle with ComEd, she forgot about the money owed to McHenry County.

McHenry County Circuit Court Clerk Kathy Keefe explained to me what is supposed to happen when a payment plan is not completed. Four letters are sent at different times to the person who owes the money; then a hearing is held, and then another letter is sent. This woman, who has lived at her address since 1979, received none of the letters. Ms. Keefe said warrants are not issued in these circumstances.

Earlier this year McHenry County struck a deal with AllianceOne to collect monies owed to the Circuit Court. Did they ever try to contact this woman?

And then the "boys with their toys" showed up and scared the living daylights out of her daughter. Now, they ought to know something about the person named in the warrant they are serving; right? Don't you think they would know whether they are after someone who owes $300 in unpaid traffic fines and court costs or a murderer? Wouldn't they do a little homework before they show up, so they will know whether to expect resistance and gunfire? Or do they just assault every residence as if the Manson Gang is holed up and then consider themselves lucky if they make it back to their cars alive?

Do I sound a little harsh about this? One, and only one, of the group could have gone to the door to ring the bell. If a kid comes to the door, he should explain professionally and politely why he is there. In this way you build confidence in police and respect for the law. (Well, maybe in Utopia, which is a little south of Mattoon.)

Frankly, it's cops like these who spoil the reputation of all the rest. There are many good cops and deputies in McHenry County. And then there are those who think that they own the night. And the day.

She got an attorney fast and got good advice to have her bond money in her purse - in cash. I added my suggestion to record all the serial numbers and store the numbers at home.

They didn't snatch her between last Tuesday and court last Monday morning, when Judge Meyer quashed the warrant for her arrest. All the fines and court costs are paid, and she hopes this is the end of it. Look at the headaches here for a crummy $25 seatbelt ticket!

So, folks, dig out your driver's license right now and check the expiration date. Licenses can be renewed almost a full year before their expiration date. And check the renewal tag on your car. Are you driving around on an expired registration? While you're at it, check the copy of your auto insurance that you keep in the car. Do you have a valid Insurance ID Card in your car?