Two South Side chimps caught stealing fire plugs off the street

Two Chicago men face felony charges after they were caught trying to steal fire hydrants Saturday morning in the Gresham neighborhood, prosecutors said today.

Ned D. Carradine, 50, and Russell L. Mack, 51, each face criminal damage to government property and theft of government property charges in connection to the incident, which took place in the 8500 block of South Loomis Boulevard, according to Cook County court records.

Police responded to a theft in progress call and found Carradine, a South Shore resident, and Mack, of Longwood Manor, in the process of attempting to put one of the hydrants in a vehicle, according to court records.

The two already had “unauthorized control” of a second hydrants, court records state.

One hydrant had been disassembled to fit it into the vehicle, according to court records.

Carradine, of the 7400 block of South Merrill Avenue, and Mack, of the 9700 block of South Emerald Avenue, were each ordered release on their own recognizance Sunday at Cook County Bond Court.

Will County Forest Preserve Police issue ticket for Facebook comment

A woman’s comments on Facebook turn into a legal battle with the Will County Forest Preserve.

The woman from Bolingbrook received a $50 ticket in the mail last week accusing her of using a dog park without a permit.

A forest preserve officer sent the ticket after interpreting a comment on Facebook to mean the woman had been using the dog park without a permit.

The woman says that’s untrue.

District officials now say the ticket will be rescinded and they will apologize to the woman.

Read more: http://wgntv.com/2014/05/29/bolingbrook-woman-ticketed-for-facebook-comment/#ixzz338Mp5sXr

Glass ledge breaks at Willis Tower

A California family got more than they bargained for during a trip to the Willis Tower Skydeck.

Alejandro Garibay, his brother and two cousins were visiting Chicago’s tallest building Wednesday night and decided to get some photos from The Ledge — a glass enclosure which looks down from 1,353 feet above the city. But when they stepped into one of the four glass enclosures, they say they felt the glass crack under their feet.

“So as we’re taking last-minute pictures, we’re sitting down on top of the deck. And maybe we were there for 30, 45 seconds, maybe a minute at most, and as we’re getting up to get out because they were soon to close, the deck just cracked beneath us,” Garibay said.

According to a spokesman with the Willis Tower, the glass deck didn’t crack. It was actually a protective coating on the glass that shattered.

“The Ledge was designed with a protective coating that completely covers all glass surfaces to protect against scratches,”  spokesman Brian Rehme said in a statement. “This coating does not affect the structural integrity of The Ledge in any way. Occasionally, the coating will crack, as it is designed to in order to protect the surface of the glass.”

Skydeck Chicago is open today, but The Ledge boxes are closed for maintenance
 

Picture provided by WGN 

Update to Illinois concealed carry permit denied

What's on the Sarge's mind wrote and submitted questions to the Illinois State Police under the freedom of information act. To our surprise they haven't responded to our correspondence. 
As you all know John Berron applied for a concealed carry permit on Jan. 5. He got a letter on March 19 that said that the Illinois Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board received an objection to his application and found he was ineligible for a permit. The Illinois State Police denied his application on that date.

Berron wasn’t told why his permit was denied, said his attorney, J.D. Obenberger.

What's on the Sarge's mind spoke with
J.D. Obenberge and he informed us that Illinois is a shall issue state and the state police have to by law inform the applicant why they were denied.  As a former U.S . Army Judge Advocate General it was my duty to look in to the law. I found out that a police department can object an applicant which is a violation of the second amendment. The other issue is the police go back further than the five year period as stated on the application,  the application clearly states in the passed five years. Illinois State Police tell me blame the politicians who wrote the law.

Obenberge even stated that Philip De Luca called him. So we contacted Mr. De Luca and this is what he had to say.

I went to renew my FOID last year and the state police told me it will be 90 days because they are behind so I went to my local court house and filed a criminal complaint because the state police have 30 days under the law to issue or deny. Then as a armed security officer I applied on January 5th and to my surprise I was denied.  I called I.S.P.  and they tell me that a police department objected and wouldn't give me any information. So I called and obtained legal counsel an filed a lawsuit on the grounds that the state police failed to adhere to the law and the constitution.  My lawyer will be filing a civil case as well once a federal court ruling comes down. The civil charge is violating civil rights. I even asked for my elected officials to help but I felt Noone really cares.

What's on the Sarge's mind is shocked that a police department as the I.S.P. who takes pride and wearing the uniform in military fashion and full of Veterans can not uphold the constitution regardless of the law of the state. The 2nd amendment is in the constitution and the constitution is the law of the land.

Vagas Boy shot in home

South St. Louis has Chicago monkey problem as well

ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI) – Three people were shot during a fight in south St. Louis on Friday afternoon.
Police say that gunshots were reported near the intersection of Alfred and Tholozan at around 12:45pm. Callers told police that a large group of men were fighting in the area.

Three victims received gunshot wounds.  Police tell FOX 2 news that, “One victim suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh, on victim suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and one victim suffered a gunshot wound to the leg. All three victims are listed in stable condition. “

Indiana Indianapolis Colts owner CA RED with DUI oh no

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and possession of a controlled substance on Friday, just over two months after his arrest, a prosecutor said.

The misdemeanor charges filed Friday are pending in Hamilton County, Indiana, Superior Court, Prosecuting Attorney D. Lee Buckingham's office said in a press release. The drug was identified in a court filing as oxycodone and/or hydrocordone.

Irsay's initial hearing on both counts is scheduled for June 19.

The Colts owner and CEO's legal team, in a statement after the charges were announced, thanked the Hamilton County prosecutor's office "for its professionalism in its investigation." The statement pointed out that authorities determined that "the facts in this matter did not warrant the filing of felony charges relative to Mr. Irsay's prescription medications.

"Mr. Irsay will deal with the remaining misdemeanor charges through the judicial process," the statement added.

Police in Carmel had earlier said that Irsay was stopped at 11:41 p.m. on March 16 for driving slowly, stopping in a roadway and failing to use his turn signal.

The probable cause affidavit indicates that the Colts owner's speech was "slow and slurred," his eyes were "red and glassy" and his balance was "very unsteady." He failed a number of field sobriety tests, had trouble reciting the alphabet and told an officer "that he was having a hard time finding his house."

In addition, a search of his vehicle found prescription drugs in bottles, police said in a press release. The drugs were not associated with any prescription bottles in the vehicle, according to police.

The next day, Irsay "voluntary checked into a highly respected health care facility," according to the Colts.

"(He) is committed committed to undergoing the treatment and care necessary to help him meet his challenges head-on," added the team.

Irsay is the first National Football League owner to face criminal charges since Eddie DeBartolo of the San Francisco 49ers was indicted on federal racketeering charges in 1997.

In that time, the league -- including its current commissioner, Roger Goodell -- have frequently punished players for off-the-field indiscretions that landed them in court.

It remains to be seen what will happen, then, to the 54-year-old Irsay, who has largely stayed out of the public spotlight -- except for regular tweets -- since his arrest.

In a brief statement Friday, the league said, "The NFL's Personal Conduct Policy applies to all league personnel and holds all of us accountable. We are reviewing the matter and will take appropriate action in accordance with the policy.

The Colts owner -- whose father, Robert Irsay, owned the team before him -- has spoken publicly about his struggles with substance abuse as well as his efforts to stay sober. In a tweet last December, Jim Irsay said that he didn't drink: "(S)orry to ruin your theories ... but I don't drink ... at all," he posted on his official account.