Author: Paul Stukel

A 25-year-old Geneva man was killed early Thursday morning after he was struck by an eastbound Metra train about a half-mile west of the Western Avenue grade crossing in Geneva. According to Geneva Police, officers and firefighters were dispatched at 6am to assist Metra police with a report of a train accident involving a pedestrian. The man was located near the Union Pacific-West railway tracks west of Western Avenue, after being struck on the northernmost track. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Preliminary findings indicate no foul play is suspected. The incident remains under investigation by the Metra Police…

A 30-year-old St. Charles man has been charged with 51 felony counts related to his alleged practice of secretly recording “upskirt” videos of both adult women and female children. According to a press release this morning from Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser and City of Geneva Chief of Police Eric Passarelli, the defendant has been charged with Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material, a Class X felony (2 counts); Reproduction of Child Sexual Abuse Material, a Class 1 felony (6 counts); Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material, a Class 3 felony (8 counts); Unauthorized Video Recording Victims Under 18,…

Two Aurora men have been charged following a reckless discharge incident that occurred early Thursday morning in Aurora. According to police, at approximately 12:48am officers responded to multiple ShotSpotter alerts in the 500 block of East Downer Place and 100 block of North Union Street. Evidence of gunfire was located at both scenes, and video footage of the incident was obtained during the initial response. Using License Plate Reader (LPR) technology, authorities identified a vehicle matching the description in the area. Approximately 30 minutes later, officers located and stopped the suspect vehicle. A 9mm handgun was observed in plain view…

Update: According to the Batavia Police Department, an individual hospitalized after the collision has succumbed to her injuries. The victim, a 37-year-old female, was a front-seat passenger in the Tesla that was struck on North Randall Road Wednesday afternoon. Identification of the deceased will be made following notification of next of kin. No charges have been filed at this time. This crash remains an active and open investigation. Four people were hospitalized, one with life-threatening injuries, after a two-car collision on Randall Road in Batavia Wednesday afternoon. According to the Batavia Police Department, the crash occurred at approximately 4:19pm at…

Four people were hospitalized, one with life-threatening injuries, after a two-car collision on Randall Road in Batavia Wednesday afternoon. According to the Batavia Police Department, the crash occurred at approximately 4:19pm at the intersection of North Randall Rd and McKee Street. The involved a Tesla sedan and a Dodge pickup truck. Preliminary investigation indicates that the Tesla was heading southbound on North Randall Road and was attempting to turn left onto eastbound McKee Street when it was struck by the Dodge, which was traveling northbound on North Randall Road. Two female occupants of the Tesla were transported to an area…

A North Aurora man has been charged with two felonies for allegedly shooting at a moving vehicle near a West Chicago elementary school last November. DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and West Chicago Chief of Police Colin Fleury announced the 20-year-old defendant has been charged with two counts of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm (one Class X Felony and one Class 1 Felony). He was denied pre-trial release by Judge Joshua Dieden at his First Appearance Court hearing on Thursday. The defendant had been taken into custody on Wednesday. According to police, on November 7, 2025, at approximately 6:43pm,…

The City of Elgin has terminated police officer Jason Lentz after Lentz posted controversial pro-ICE comments on his Facebook page in October 2025. The termination follows an independent investigation that found he violated departmental policies and standard operating procedures when making the posts. Elgin Police Chief Ana Lalley determined that termination was the appropriate disciplinary action following a review of the investigative findings. The decision was approved by the city’s corporation counsel and city manager. Chief Lalley was made aware of the posts on Oct. 15, 2025. Lentz was placed on administrative leave the following day, and the city immediately…

Three Cook County men, two of whom are currently on parole for aggravated vehicular hijacking, led authorities on a wild chase Wednesday evening that began in Bellwood and ended in Aurora with their arrest. The men have been charged in DuPage County for a number of felonies, including armed violence and weapons charges, as well as fleeing and eluding. In Kane County, charges were brought for home invasion and trespassing. On Wednesday, officers with the Bellwood Police Department initiated pursuit of a Green Jeep suspected of being involved in a shooting. At approximately 5:50pm, an officer with the Oak Brook…

The St. Charles St. Patrick’s Parade will take place on Saturday, March 14 in downtown St. Charles, along with a variety of family-friendly St. Patrick’s-themed activities for individuals to take part in around town. The St. Patrick’s Parade will step off 2pm, from 6th Street and travel down Main Street to conclude at 4th Avenue. Attendees at the event will get to experience the sounds of Bagpipers and local marching bands and admire the vibrant parade entries while celebrating with the community. Attendees will also have the chance to capture their memorable time at the St. Patrick’s Parade by visiting the Photo…

A 51-year-old Aurora man has been sentenced to 105 years in prison for fatally shooting his recent domestic partner in January 2024. In November 2025, Travares O. Mitchell, of the 1000 block of Sard Avenue, was convicted by a jury of First-Degree Murder (Class M felony) and Armed Habitual Criminal (Class X felony). According to prosecutors, on January 13, 2024, Aurora police officers responded to a single-vehicle crash and shots fired near Prairie Street and Woodlawn Avenue in Aurora. Officers located 46-year-old Serhonda Burnett as the sole occupant and passenger in the crashed vehicle. Burnett suffered from numerous gunshot wounds…