Clik here to view.
Skokie
Teen Charged in Shooting Near Old Orchard Mall
Criminal charges have been filed against Rayshawn Taylor, 17 , of the 1900 block of Jackson Avenue in Evanston, in connection with a shooting that took place outside Old Orchard Mall near the intersection of Golf Road and Skokie Boulevard. Taylor is charged with one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of unlawful use of a weapon.
Taylor shot a juvenile with a semiautomatic pistol on May 17 around 9:45 p.m., police said. When officers arrived at the scene, they observed a male subject lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He is currently in stable condition.
"This was not a random act," Skokie Deputy Chief Mike Pechter told Patch.
Taylor's bond has been set at $250,000 and is under electronic home monitoring, police said. His next court date is May 31.
Palatine
Man Killed in Motorcycle Crash
Police said that a Palatine man died after losing control of the motorcycle he was driving on Wilke/Frontage Road, just south of Rand Road, on May 22.
There were no witnesses to the accident, but preliminary evidence at the scene indicated the motorcycle failed to negotiate a right turn and skidded into a fence. The driver, 30 year old Husham Hussain, of the 200 block of North Wilke Road, Palatine, was transported to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Hussain, who was not wearing a helmet, was riding a 2009 KTM ZRC8 motorcycle at the time of the accident. The Cook County Sheriffs Police, who originally was dispatched to the accident, assisted Palatine personnel at the scene.
Algonquin
Students Injured in Bounce House Accident
A fifth grade picnic held inside the gymnasium at Algonquin Lakes Elementary School Thursday morning ended with six children being sent to area hospitals with minor injuries after an inflatable slide tipped over, said Gary Chester, a District 300 safety officer.
Emergency officials were called to Algonquin Lakes,1401 Compton Drive in Algonquin, at 12 p.m. Thursday, according to an Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District press release.
The accident occurred when several children climbed up the slide at one time, the slide started to sway and then tipped over, Chester said.
In total, 17 children were evaluated for injuries at the school, according to the fire department news release. Of those children, six were taken Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington and Sherman Hospital in Elgin, Chester said.
The rest of the children were picked up by their parents from school, Chester said. Friday is the last day of school for children at Algonquin Lakes Elementary School, he said.
Lake Zurich
Man Charged with Sexual Abuse Worked with Kids in District 220
The man charged with sexually molesting an 8-year-old boy at Willow Creek Community Church also worked with some District 220 children, the school district reports.
Officials say 19-year-old Robert Sobczak of Hoffman Estates was volunteering in a care center for special needs children when the molestation occurred at Willow Creek.
District 220 Superintendent Tom Leonard said in a letter to parents and staff that Sobczak was also employed by the Barrington Park District and worked in its morning and afternoon KEEP programs at Arnett C. Lines and Grove Avenue schools. He was recently released from his job at the park district, Leonard said.
“There are no indications of any incidents involving our students during his time as a staff member in the park district’s KEEP program. No children have come forward, no parents or staff have expressed concerns, no reports have surfaced in addition to the one currently being investigated by local police,” Leonard’s letter read.
Read the full letter on the Barrington 220 School District website.
Barrington
Train Clips Semi, Shuts Down Route 14
A Canadian National train slammed into the back end of a semi-truck Thursday, blocking all four lanes of Route 14 between Route 59 and Lake Cook Road.
The road eventually reopened later that evening.
Barrington Police officials say the truck’s front end was already across the tracks when the train crashed into the trailer around 6:30 p.m. The trailer then spun out, blocking the road completely. The driver of the truck was seen walking around after the accident. It's unclear if there are any injuries as a result of the crash, police officials said. As of 7:45 p.m., the train was still blocking the crossing at that location.