Murky details confuse readers

Today's Northwest Herald reported on the September 29 shooting north of Marengo, when a deputy attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Edward P. Bolen, 49.

If you want to be totally confused, read the media release on the Sheriff's Department website and then read the story in today's Northwest Herald.

The media release says that "members of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division went to 2905 Northwest Road, in unincorporated Marengo Township in an attempt to serve a domestic battery warrant on Edward P. Bolen.

"Sheriff’s deputies saw Bolen within the residence and made contact with him and a roommate..."

However, the newspaper article says that Dep. Zane Seipler went to the house. He then contacted dispatch and requested another deputy, after he saw Bolen running in the house. Dep. Robert Chamberlain responded.

Seipler and Bolen went to the back door, and they told another man in the house to leave, whereupon they entered the house (legal entry?) and went to the front door to unlock it for a (third, unnamed) deputy to enter.

Seipler and Chamberlain heard Bolen in the basement and went downstairs. Chamberlain saw Bolen with a gun and yelled out. Seipler took a couple of shots at Bolen, apparently missing him.

Seipler called for SWAT. When they arrived, Seipler went outside to brief them (not "debrief" them, as the NWH article says).

From the newspaper article it looks like another deputy took a couple of shots at Bolen while near and in front of Dep. Chamberlain. Then Bolen threw a gun out of the basement room in which he was hiding.

How can the Sheriff's Department possibly say that it is "unclear" who fired the second set of shots? They must know exactly who fired them. Why aren't they saying? Somebody's gun was dirty and was not fully loaded. Were the shots fired by the third deputy, the one who came in the front door after Seipler and Chamberlain unlocked it? Why doesn't the report mention her (or his) name?

Then the SWAT team entered the basement.

The Sheriff's Dept. media release says that Bolen was hit by two bean bag rounds, after he brandished a knife at (SWAT) team members.

The defense attorney, Dan Hofmann, will have a great time with the reports, if they aren't any clearer than the Dept. media release and the information given to the NWH reporter.

Reports should be clear and logical. And truthful. With them, the reader should be able to figure out what happened. Questions should be answered, not raised.

Bolen has six felony and two misdemeanor charges filed against him in Case No. 12CF000920. There have already been five court dates for motions, and his next court date is November 6.

Bolen was arrested and charged in Lake in the Hills on October 26 for violating an Order of Protection. According to Court records, the OP was entered October 1 and was terminated on October 22. This leads, of course, to the question as to why Bolen was arrested on October 26 for violating it. Did Lake in the Hills fail to check court records before arresting Bolen? Or is there an Order in effect from another County?