Bolen arrested on warrant; shots fired

First place: Chicago Tribune
Second place: Northwest Herald
Last place: McHenry County Sheriff's website

Yesterday there was a major incident just after noon near Marengo involving guns and shots fired. You'd think it would hit the news pretty fast.

The Chicago Tribune article was posted at 9:09PM and gave the time at which the incident started as 12:18PM.

The Northwest Herald reported the incident in the morning print edition and online at 5:30AM. That article included this statement: "It also was not clear how many deputies were involved or how many shots authorities fired."

Of course, they know. You count noses. That's how many.

And not knowing the number of shots fired by deputies? Of course, they know that, too. Deputies should know how many rounds are loaded in their weapons and carried on their belts. Count the number of live rounds left. Subtract. Bingo! The difference is the number of shots fired.

There is a place for media releases on Sheriff Nygren's website, but apparently no one is authorized to post it or available on the week-end to do so. It's too bad that shift personnel cannot be trusted to write up initial announcements and post them.

Because this incident of deputy-involved shooting is being investigated by the Illinois State Police, it may be that the Sheriff's Department will use that as an excuse and a cloud to avoid any public reporting at all.

Edward P. Bolen, 49, of 2905 NW Road, McHenry County (near Marengo), was arrested and jailed at 5:40PM after being treated at Centegra Hospital - Woodstock. Bolen is charged with Domestic Battery/Bodily Harm; Aggravated-Unlawful Use of Weapon on a Person; Aggravated Assault / Use Firearm on Peace Officer (5 counts); Possession of firearm without a FOID card; Possession of Ammunition without a FOID card.

Bolen's image can be viewed on the Sheriff's website under Corrections. Search by name or date (although you can't really search by Name - you have to scroll through all). Maybe someday they will get around to creating the online image of inmates so they can be copied for articles.

Circuit Court records, which do not yet reflect Bolen's arrest, indicate a court date on October 29, 9:00AM, with Judge Graham for a status of the warrant. He'll probably have an appearance in Rights Court on Monday at 8:00AM to be advised of his rights and hear about any bail amount.

So where did the Chicago Tribune and the Northwest Herald get their information?