Loading Up with Charges

Remember the Huntley school district bus driver who allegedly jammed on the brakes on April 30, when the kids on the bus were being unruly? As one story goes, she jammed on the brakes to teach them a lesson. Several were apparently pitched out of their seats.

The bus driver was charged with 38 (THIRTY-EIGHT!!!) misdemeanors; two for each of the 19 reportedly-injured students. The charges? Reckless Conduct and Endangering the Life or Health of a Child.

This is the dumbest thing of which I've heard in a long time. Why in the world would the police department (Huntley PD?) issue on 38 charges? Obviously, they are intending to "make a statement." Thirty-eight charges - - that leaves a lot of room for plea-bargaining, doesn't it?

If I were the judge, I'd admonish the police chief, the officer(s) and the Village Attorney for this tomfoolery. If they think they've got a case, they could make it without this kind of nonsense.

Today's Daily Herald article reports that the incident occurred in the parking lot of Leggee Elementary School in District 158. The first thought I had was, is there a Vehicular Control Contract between the School District 158 and the law enforcement jurisdiction there (Huntley PD?). And is it tight enough to hold? But then I re-read the article and realized they didn't charge her with traffic violations. These charges are much more serious.

The bus driver, who has been fired, has asked for a jury trial. The next court date, for a pre-trial status hearing, is July 17. Should be interesting to watch all the legal maneuvering that is sure to follow.

Will her attorney ask for separate trials in each of the 19 individual students and bankrupt D158 with legal fees?

Deputy Cited in Crash

On Friday, May 16, a traffic crash occurred in Huntley involving a McHenry County Sheriff’s Department patrol car driven by Deputy Ed Sanderson and a Saturn Ion driven by Donald Eberlein.

According to Huntley Police Sgt. Michael Hewitt today, the crash happened at about 4:51 PM on Illinois Route 47, just north of Main Street, in Huntley.

Deputy Sanderson was charged with failure to reduce speed and has a court date of June 23 at 1:30PM in McHenry County Traffic Court. Mr. Eberlein was not issued a citation.

No injuries were reported at the time of the accident. Emergency equipment on the patrol vehicle was not in use at the time of the accident.

Accidents involving law enforcement personnel on- or off-duty may not deserve any special reporting, but the only noteworthy aspect of this crash is that it apparently has not yet been reported in local media. It seems to me that any crash involving a county vehicle or a county law enforcement vehicle (or any law enforcement vehicle) deserves a routine news report at the minimum.

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT

Squad Car in Accident?

A McHenry County deputy sheriff was reportedly involved in a crash in Huntley while operating his squad car, and he was issued a ticket in the accident. A call to the Huntley Police Department non-emergency number was connected to an answering machine, where a message was left. More details will be provided, as soon as they are available. The tip included the deputy's name, but it will not be published until confirmation by the Huntley P.D.

(c) 2008 GUS PHILPOTT