Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser has cleared a Batavia police officer and two Kane County sheriff’s deputies of any wrongdoing related to an incident this summer that resulted in the death of a a suspect, 39-year-old Michael J. Seidelman.
Mosser’s investigation concluded that Seidelman’s death was a suicide carried out by a single self-inflicted gunshot wound, that no officer-fired rounds struck Seidelman, and that the deadly use of force by a Batavia officer and two Kane County sheriff’s deputies was justified and within the law.
“I commend the officers of the Batavia Police Department and the Kane County Sheriff’s Office for their swift and decisive actions that moved two children out of harm’s way,” Mosser wrote in a statement. “Their commitment to protecting the other apartment residents and their fellow officers was exemplary. I also thank the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force for their thorough investigation into this incident. Finally, while we recognize the courage of the officers, we must also acknowledge the profound loss experienced by Mr. Seidelman’s family. My heart goes out to them in this difficult time.”
The investigation determined that on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at around 3:45pm, Batavia police officers responded to a second-floor apartment on the 1200 block of East Wilson Street for a 911 call about a person harming himself and potentially in a mental health crisis.
Upon arriving, officers tried to make contact with the subject, Seidelman, and heard two children screaming inside. Unable to breach the door, officers helped the children escape through the apartment’s balcony and moved them to safety.
As deputies from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene, Seidelman began firing at officers from the apartment with an AR-15. Officers returned fire.
One Batavia officer and two Kane County Sheriff’s Office deputies discharged their weapons during the incident. However, no rounds fired by law enforcement struck Seidelman. In total, Seidelman shot over 70 rounds in and outside the apartment.
A final shot was heard at approximately 4:00pm. Thirty minutes later, SWAT members entered the apartment and found Seidelman deceased.
An autopsy determined that he had died from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The investigation found that his death was not caused by officers.
After reviewing the findings of the investigation, State’s Attorney Mosser determined that the officers’ use of force in firing towards the suspect was justified because the officers would have had a reasonable belief that they and others in the vicinity were in danger of suffering great bodily harm or death.
Please click here for a video reflecting crucial evidence related to the incident. Viewer discretion is advised.
In the interest of transparency, the investigation was conducted by the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force and findings were reviewed by the State’s Attorney.
A full investigative report has been presented to both involved agencies. Authorities are releasing video of the incident. A link is located toward the bottom of this press release.
The case has been turned over to the Batavia Police Department for any continued investigation.
“The Batavia Police Department offers our sincere condolences to the friends and family of Mr. Seidelman,” Batavia Police Chief Eric Blowers said . “The Batavia community, our department, and all those directly or indirectly impacted by this situation continue to heal in the aftermath of this event. I am immensely proud of the men and women of our department who faced grave personal danger and acted with courage and professionalism to protect those involved in this situation and the community at large. We also thank the many other law enforcement agencies and fire department personnel who responded to this incident to provide assistance.”
