Courtside seats

High school basketball took me to a diverse range of cities spanning from Chicago near Wrigley Field to rural Wisconsin townships such as Orfordville, Clinton and Walworth.

Concluded there is more to the story in high school basketball than just the games themselves. Whether players were mourning the loss of a former player or capturing the best games of young athletes' lives, reported on a lot of ground.

In the midst of being assigned to report on the same team weekly for the Beloit Daily News it allowed me to learn about the student more than the athlete. Through observation and capturing the emotion of student-athletes it became apparent they possessed a passion and desire to win games while still wanting to enjoy life outside the game.

Knights miss chance for win

January 13, 2007

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

GRAYSLAKE -- Grayslake North's bid to dent the win column for the first time in school history fell short in McHenry on Friday night, as the host Warriors prevailed 50-38 in a non-conference game. McHenry is now 2-14 on the season, with both wins over the Knights. 

Grayslake Central - a first-year program with no senior class - is now 0-14. The hosts led 8-1 early and were up 26-20 at halftime, and though the Knights never took the lead, they did pull within 29-28 on a Noel DeLaMar bucket with three minutes left in the third quarter.

But McHenry led 32-30 after three quarters and steadily pulled away from there.

The Knights were led in scoring by Clay Henrickson with 10 points. McHenry got 11 points from Ryan McNaughton.

"It was a hardfought game," said Grayslake North coach Todd Grunloh. "Both teams were scrappy."

The game featured 48 fouls - 24 for each team. Grayslake North was just 6 of 18 from the free-throw line.

The Knights will return to action Tuesday night with a non-league game at powerful Lakes in Lake Villa. 

Mistakes doom Corsairs in ESCC battle

January 6, 2007

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

MUNDELEIN - Costly turnovers prevented the Carmel Corsairs from capturing their first East Suburban Catholic Conference victory of the season, as the home team lost 33-31 to Notre Dame of Niles here Friday night. The Corsairs led 16-10 at halftime, courtesy of sophomore Jack Baucus,who scored seven of his team-leading 11 points in the second period to allow Carmel to pull ahead. 

Baucus played in his sixth varsity game after being promoted from the sophomore squad. "I am just trying to pitch in whenever possible," Baucus said.

Carmel was able to hold a four-point lead going into the final period before turnovers in the final two minutes allowed the Dons to take the lead for the first time since the early first period.

Carmel held the largest lead of the game at the start of the third period with the score 20-10, but Notre Dame then made three consecutive shots from behind the arc.

The Corsairs were unable to overcome a flurry of two-point field goals by Notre Dame's Madiaga Erateya which tied the game at 28-28.

"Turnovers are what cost us the game, we just couldn't keep it together at the end," said Carmel coach Jon Baffico.

Despite dropping to 0-3 in the ESCC, 4-11 overall, the Corsairs' coach remains optimistic the team will be able to reach the upper half of the conference standings by the end of the season.

"It's a realistic goal (to be in the upper half) and we have games left to be played and we continue to improve every game," Baffico said.

With the promise of Baucus as the team's sophomore, Baffico said he has the player in his future plans of the season.

"We will look to start him more and he will be given quality minutes," Baffico said. "We started him in all the games in the prior holiday tournament."

Carmel was able to put the game within one point after a David Venegoni hit a 3-point shot to make the score 32-31 with less than a minute to play. Venegoni ended the game with eight points.

The Corsairs maintained possession of the ball with seven seconds remaining, but were unable to convert a crucial free-throw opportunity after Notre Dame's Erateya drew a late foul with five seconds remaining.

Other scoring contributors for the Corsairs were Matt Eckhart with seven and Sean Kane with five.

Grant gets what it wants: A rematch

December 30, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

FOX LAKE - Behind senior center Jeremy Shedrick's double-double, Grant got its wish to face off against Lakes High as the Bulldogs defeated Richmond-Burton 62-55 here Friday night to win their pool and earn the right to take on the Eagles in the Grant Holiday Tournament championship game at 7:00pm today. 

Shedrick scored 15 points, grabbed 14 boards and added 3 blocked shots to help the Bulldogs improve their record to 10-1.

"He usually does double-doubles every game, and this game is no different," said Grant coach Phil Ralston.

Mike Shields also scored 15 points for Grant. He drew several fouls in the game, but was just 4 of 9 from the stripe.

"We were not as aggressive as we would have liked in the first half and played the perimeter too much and didn't penetrate," Ralston said.

During halftime, Ralston told his team to be more aggressive in the low post, and the Bulldogs came out with a scoring explosion in the third period, scoring 21 points to give them a 46-30 margin entering the final period.

Shedrick was only able to score two points in the first half, but was able to pour in 13 points in the final half.

"My leg was bothering me in the second half and I was able to tough it out and play more aggressively in the (second) half," Shedrick said.

The center played the most minutes in the game, only sitting on the bench for the final two minutes of the third period.

In addition to Shedrick and Shield, the Bulldogs had two other scorers in double figures.

Junior forward Mike Grischeau pitched in 12 points and converted 4 of 6 free throws late in the contest while Zak Jolly scored 10.

Recent call-up Nickerson leads the way

December 16, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

WINNETKA - Colin Nickerson was recently called up from the sophomore squad for the Waukegan Bulldogs, and he helped salvage a game that went out of reach in the third period for Waukegan. Nickerson scored 12 points off the bench as Waukegan was unable to keep up with the New Trier Trevians Friday here and lost 73-54. 

The sophomore guard hit three 3-pointers and was able to convert 3 of 4 free throws. He also added a baseline jumper in the fourth period. The loss drops the Bulldogs to 2-7 overall while the Trevians remain unbeaten.

"They were a good team and we have young kids. We will keep working to get better," said Waukegan coach Al Rogers.

Waukegan started one senior and four juniors in the game against a more experienced and bigger New Trier squad.

The Bulldogs were able to maintain consistent intensity to hold the game within 20 points when the game was out reach by the third period.

"This is the first night for the young sophomore (Nickerson) and he came off the bench with a lot of energy," Rogers said. "Again, that is what this group is. They are not going to quit on us and they will give us everything they got."

Rogers remains optimistic for the remainder of the season as he believes the team "will right the ship."

"The young kids continue to step up and we will continue to build on it," Rogers added.

Leading the Bulldog scorers was junior guard Rashaan Melvin with 14 points. Melvin scored nine of his 14 behind.

Waukegan and New Trier entered the second half with the score 34-26, but the Trevians were able to widen the gap to 55-34 at the conclusion of the third period.

Pitching in for the Bulldogs was Josh Smith with 11 points and Reginald Thomas with six points.

Wildkits hand Giants first loss despite 19 from Wroblewski

December 2, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

HIGHLAND PARK - It was all Highland Park High's boys basketball team in the first half, but the Evanston made necessary adjustments to thwart the perimeter shooting Giants in the second half as the Wildkits handed the host team its first loss of the season 58-49 on Friday. 

With the score 22-18 in favor of the Giants (4-1) entering the second half, the Wildkits (5-1) were able to apply more pressure behind the arc to prevent three-point threat Chris Wroblewskifrom making any more treys.

"I thought we did a nice job down the stretch to keep it a one or two possession game, but those free throws (at the end) really couldn't get us over the hump," said Highland Park coach Paul Harris.

Early in the fourth period, the Giants were able to keep themselves within four points but drew eight fouls. The Wildkits were able to take advantage of the fouls by converting 11 of 18 free throws to widen the gap at the end of regulation.

Highland Park accumulated more than 10 fouls in the second half compared to only three in the first half.

Both teams appeared to play aggressive defense in the second half, drawing free throw bonuses for both teams.

Wroblewski scored a game-high 19 points for the Giants with three 3-point shots in the first half.

The Giants were able to hold the lead until midway into the third period when Evanston's Eric Hilbring scored seven points to put the Wildkits ahead 32-28.

Highland Park was able to prevent any inside penetration in the first half with a 1-2-2 defensive formation, but the Wildkits were able to break through the defensive scheme in the second half.

"I thought all night we did a pretty nice job at stopping their penetration and forcing them behind the perimeter," Harris said.

Giants senior Steve Mandell pitched in 11 points for the Highland Park team, including four points to keep the game within one before Evanston's Sean Croegaert-Key hit a buzzer beater at the end of the third period.

Croegaert-Key scored a team-high 14 points for the Wildkits.

Bees win in double-overtime

November 25, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

CHICAGO - It took two overtimes for Zion-Benton High to give Oak Park-River Forest its first loss of the season at the Lane Tech High holiday boys basketball tournament here Friday night. 

Behind the leadership of sophomore guard Ronald Steward, the Zee-Bees came away with a 60-56 victory over the Huskies to improve to 3-1. Steward began the second-overtime rally with his third 3-pointer of the night, and he added two free throws on the next possession to give Zion-Benton a solid 57-52 lead.

The sophomore guard remained modest after the game despite scoring a team-high 22 points for the Zee Bees.

"They were playing man defense and we attacked it, and I took advantage of it with open shots," Steward said. "It wasn't just me. Our whole team stepped up. Our whole team made the necessary adjustments."

Steward came through in the third period when Zion-Benton was down 28-23 with his first two 3-pointers and hit a midrange jumper to put the Zee-Bees ahead 31-30 entering the fourth quarter.

A key for the Zee Bees was the strong ball control and ability to keep the ball moving without turning the ball over.

The Huskies were able to come within one point when senior center Jamis Nelson hit a layup in a low-post jam with 1:14 left in the overtime.

"It was an extremely tough, hard-fought game. The traps, the hard presses, the full-court presses ..." said Z-B assistant coach Bob Worthington. "This was a good basketball team."

With Zion-Benton unable to convert key offensive rebounds in the first half, the coaching staff told the team to slow down and take fouls in the low post.

"They are a young team and sometimes they get a little surprised by the pressure," Worthington said.

Terrance Davis scored 10 points for the winners, while Rodney Clinkscales added eight points. Sophomore center Markus Yarbrough scored just one bucket.

Sideline view

High School football has garnered the most experience early in my journalism career - indicative by covering events in Rock County, Wis. for the Beloit Daily News.

The Beloit Daily News covered a wide circulation area spanning all rural southern Rock County townships and the northern Illinois region - and reported on games directly from the sidelines - even in cold/rainy weather.

Went as far as utilizing a pencil to make notations in the midst of rainy nights and bundling up in cold weather. The press box is an area I rarely was at and strived to catch all the plays the same way players observed them.

My coverage of high school football took me to Palatine, Ill. and spanned to the northwest in Janesville, Wis. in less than five years.

Using the run to set up the pass, Fremd High eliminated

November 4, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

PALATINE - Using the run to set up the pass, Fremd High eliminated visiting Stevenson 20-14 in a IHSA Class 8A second-round playoff game here on Friday. Vikings' quarterback Mark Tolzien completed 9 of 16 passes for 181 yards and 3 touchdowns to help his team move into the quarterfinals with a 10-1 record. 

Both teams traded touchdowns in the first half - with Fremd striking last when Tolzien hooked up with Anthony Sarella for a 41-yard TD pass as time ran out in the second quarter to tie the game at 14-14.

Tolzien helped the Vikiings open the scoring with 11:33 left in the second quarter when he tossed a 25-yard TD pass to Tyler Perna for a 7-0 lead.

The lead was shortlived, as Stevenson's Geoffrey Matthews came up big on a pair of three-down conversion runs before Dan Dowd powered in from 2-yard out for touchdown to tie the game at 7-7.

Matthews (16 carries, 85 yards) continued to come up with key plays offensively for the Patriots with two runs to move the chains on fourth down in Stevenson's final scoring drive of the first half.

Matthews found the end zone himself from 5-yards out to wrap up the drive to give Stevenson a 14-7 lead with just over a minute to play, but it was enough time for Tolzien to put the game-tying touchdown on the scoreboard before halftime.

Fremd took the opening kickoff in the second half and kept possession of the football for close to seven minutes before Tolzien fired a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jake Smith on a 4th-and-16 play.

The extra point kick failed, but Stevenson (8-3) wasn't about to capitalize in the final period.

The Patriots had a golden opportunity to tie the game late in the fourth quarter when they marched 76 yards down to the Fremd 4-yard line, but Dowd (25 carries, 137 yards) fumbled and the Vikings were able to recover the football with 3:59 to play.

Fremd was then able to run out the clock by converting on a key third down play to end Stevenson's season.

Dowd leads Pats to big win

October 28, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

LINCOLNSHIRE - Runing back Dan Dowd scored four touchdowns to help Stevenson High's football team power past visiting Lane Tech in an IHSA Class 8A playoff clash on Friday. After scoring four times in the first half, Dowd came down with an ankle injury midway through the third quarter. Stevenson coach Bill Mitz said he is not worried about Dowd's injury and should be able to return to action next week.

Dowd scored an amazing four touchdowns in the first quarter to help Stevenson (8-2) build a commanding 35-7 lead. Dowd found the end zone on runs of 1-, 7-, 25- and 1-yards.

Stevenson took advantage of a pair of Lane Tech interceptions to score twice in the opening period.

Patriots' quarterback Kevin Murtha was also picked off twice in the first half, but he was able to hook up with Grant McNamara on a 12-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to take a 35-14 lead into halftime.

Murtha threw yet another interception in the third quarter which put Lane Tech in scoring position but Lane Tech fumbled the ball on the insuing play.

Lane Tech was unable to get anything done on offense with 21 of it's points coming in special terams and defensive positions including a 97-yard kickoff return by Lane Tech defensive back Chris Anton to tie the game at 7 early in the game.

Stevenson, who advanced to the Class 8A quarterfinals last season, will travel to Palatine Fremd next weekend for a second-round playoff contest. The Vikings are the No. 3 seed in the upper Class 8A bracket, while the Patriots are the No. 6 seed.

Dietrich continues his amazing interception streak

October 21, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

LAKE ZURICH - Michael Dietrich continued his amazing interception streak for Lake Zurich High's football team on Friday, as the Bears stunned visiting Stevenson 35-7 in a North Suburban Conference Lake Division finale. Dietrich has had picks in six straight games for Lake Zurich (8-1 overall, 5-1 in the NSC Lake) - including three interception returns for touchdowns.

The junior defensive back had two picks on Friday - including a 37-yard return for a score - which helped the Bears reel off 35 unanswered points. Lake Zurich broke a 7-7 tie at halftime with a 28-point second half.

It was all Stevenson early with a punishing running attack, as Dan Dowd capped a 54-yard scoring drive late in the opening quarter with a 1-yard plunge for a 7-0 lead.

Lake Zurich tied the game at 7-7 when Kyle Skarb countered with a 2-yard TD run with 3:42 left in the first half.

The Bears took the lead for good on their first series of the second half when Matt Blanchard ripped off a 61-yard touchdown run for a 14-7 lead.

Lake Zurich added two more lengthy TD runs of 55 yards by Adam Simpson and 72 yards by Jon Janus over the next 10 minutes to build a commanding 28-7 lead with 11:46 left in the game.

Dietrich then picked off Stevenson quarterback Kevin Murtha on the Pats' ensuing possession and race in for a score for the final margin of victory.

Bees earn first win

October 14, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

WAUCONDA - Zion-Benton High's football team dented the win column for the first time this season, crushing Wauconda 41-14 here Friday night in a non-conference game. The loss drops Wauconda to 3-5 overall and knocks them out of playoff contention. Jeremy Williams rushed for 251 yards and scored on runs of 7, 55 and 36 yards to lead the Bees' first real offensive explosion of the season.

Wauconda, which has the area's leading rusher in junior fullback Brad Wisniewski (32 carries, 152 yards, 1 touchdown) fell behind 28-0 at halftime and never got back into contention.

Zion's defense played brilliantly, sacking Steven Kent three times. Kent threw more than 20 times, but could complete just seven for 85 yards.

Zion's other touchdowns came on a 6-yard pass from Tyler Garbett to Deon Harper, an eight-yard run by Detrick Washington, and a fumble recovery in the end zone by Tom Handyside.

Outrage in Lindenhurst - Suspect with Violent Past

There was a substantial amount of emotion as I arrived in the Town of Trevor in November as part of team coverage in the Lindenhurst Burger King slaying.

As I made the trip alongside a photographer to gather information about who the victim of the slaying was, I knew it was going to be a tough task, as I had the unfortunate task of approaching the husband at their Kenosha County home.

In the ensuing investigation of the murder case it was confirmed the suspect had a violent past dating back to the year I was born in 1982.

James Ealy went off the hook for a murder offense committed in Chicago 24 years earlier and was able to obtain employment and fly under the radar undetected - all due to a technicality.

Hutchison's neighbors decry violence

November, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

TREVOR, Wis. - A small rural community is beginning to react to the news of a local woman who was killed at a Lindenhurst Burger King Nov. 27. Mary Hutchison, 45, was a Trevor, Wis. resident who worked at two Lake County Burger Kings marred by robbery attempts involving herself. Hutchison was a mother of three children and had a husband, Ken, who was too distraught to speak to The News-Sun late Tuesday morning.

The news of the murder is starting to trickle into the western Kenosha county region as more citizens are hearing the news from others or from news sources.

Hutchison was robbed nine months earlier at the Antioch Burger King, making the woman seek a transfer to another Burger King with less violence.

"People are bringing the big city crime to us," said Antioch resident Ed Simpson, 72, who said he has noticed crime rates going up around his home in the last five years. "They (the community) seem to be taking it very well, but it is disconcerting to them," Simpson said.

Simpson was a former part-time police officer for the police department in far south suburban Hazelcrest and has a theory on how the attack may have occurred.

"Somebody must have waited until they were closed to do the job," Simpson said. "They hung around until everyone was gone and ambushed her. You don't have to be a criminal or rocket scientist to figure out when a place closes."

Simpson has been familiar with western Kenosha County and northwest Lake County region for more than 40 years and owns a nearby airport.

Simpson's friend, Robert Kussmann, was eating lunch with him at the CowMark Cafe and said criminals are left with too many opportunities to commit crimes.

"Anytime you give someone and opportunity to break a law, they will," said Kussman, 81.

Salem resident Terri Miller said more needs to be done to arm managers with protection during late night hours or better train employees to minimize the damage done in violent situations.

"I think all owners and managers should get protection to prevent them from being killed," Miller said. "There is just too much violence nowadays, people want things they can't have."

The 55-year-old Miller suggests adding more employees during late night hours to discourage violence.

Simpson agrees with Miller about staffing situations during closing times.

"One person should not be left alone, man or woman to close a restaurant (or any other establishment)," Simpson said.

Simpson added law enforcement agencies have been more restricted in this era than what he experienced 30 years prior.

"Nowadays police have to handle criminals with soft cuffs" and prosecutors are more limited.

Simpson mentioned many criminals tend to undergo rounds of appeals to prevent them from seeing the death penalty and the extent of their punishments.

"They just die of old age with the time they spend on appeals," Simpson said.

As the community grieves, "time will tell" on how residents of the Trevor and surrounding areas will respond, according to Kussmann.

In addition, both Kussmann and Simpson remember when they were able to keep the doors of their houses unlocked, but in this era they can't.

TEAM COVERAGE REPORTS...

Man held in murder of fast-food manager

December 2, 2006

Lisa Donovan

Chicago Sun-Times

Authorities announced an arrest Friday in the case of a Burger King manager found slain earlier this week inside the fast-food franchise in far north suburban Lindenhurst.

James "Jim" Ealy, 42, of Lake Villa, was arrested Friday and charged with first-degree homicide in the slaying of restaurant manager Mary Hutchison, 45, of Trevor, Wis.

Police said the suspect is a "service worker" for area fast-food and department stores and that he is married.

Reached by phone late Friday, a Lake Villa man who identified himself as Ealy's brother said only: "This is going through his lawyers, but he's totally innocent."

The arrest comes five days after Hutchison was found dead by a fellow employee.

Apparently Hutchison had arrived at work early Monday; by the time a co-worker arrived, she was dead -- apparently the victim of blunt trauma -- lying next to an open, empty safe in an office area, police said.

Lindenhurst Police Chief Jack McKeever said Friday night he was "very, very happy to know the case was resolved in less than five days."

'Told me the guy confessed'

About 25 investigators on the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force have been working on the case, examining restaurant security video and other leads in the case.

Authorities weren't talking Friday night about what led them to Ealy but said the motive was robbery. Ealy was in the Lake County Jail.

Hutchison worked 14 years for Burger King, family said. She started in Lindenhurst in June.

Hutchison had been the victim of a robbery and pistol-whipping at another Burger King where she had worked.

"I'm just glad. . . . Leaving someone out there like that is just wrong," Hutchison's ex-husband, Grant Nothnagle of Milwaukee, said Friday night.

Their son Richard, 22, had told Nothnagle of the arrest and charges. "He told me the guy confessed," Nothnagle said.

Murder suspect had violent past

'He should not have been on the street': former Cook County prosecutor

December 5, 2006

By Eric Herman and Annie Sweeney

Chicago Sun-Times

Two decades before he allegedly murdered Mary Hutchison in a Lindenhurst Burger King, James Ealy was convicted of murdering a pregnant woman and three children on Chicago's West Side. But an appellate court threw out his conviction - and left prosecutors no evidence to try him again. 

"He should not have been on the street," said Brian Telander, who prosecuted Ealy as an assistant Cook County state's attorney. "He was an evil, evil person."

Telander, 54, said he felt "sick" when he heard Ealy had allegedly killed again.

"I'm a defense lawyer now, and obviously I recognize that the law has to be followed," he said. "But this was a person that there was just no doubt he was guilty."

Last week, a co-worker discovered Hutchison's body inside a Burger King in Lindenhurst. Hutchison, 45, was found next to an open, empty safe. She had been strangled with the bowtie from her uniform, prosecutors said.

On Saturday, a Lake County judge ordered Ealy held without bond after prosecutors charged him with murder. Prosecutors said Ealy, who had formerly worked at the Burger King as a maintenance man, killed Hutchison after robbing the restaurant.

Ealy "made incriminating statements" during videotaped questioning, Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller said. And a search of his Lake Villa apartment yielded currency linked to the Burger King robbery, as well as clothes he purportedly wore during the murder.

For Telander, hearing how Hutchison had been strangled brought back memories - horrible memories - of the Parker case.

On Aug. 16, 1982, police discovered the bodies of Christine Parker and her three children - Mary Ann, Cora and Jontae -- in a seventh-floor apartment in the Rockwell Gardens housing project. The victims had been strangled, and Jontae, a 3-year-old boy, had been raped. Christine Parker was pregnant.

Ealy, then 17, had been dating 15-year-old Mary Ann Parker. Police questioned him and searched his bedroom, where they found evidence linking him to the crime, including a length of khaki material similar to what was found embedded in the neck of one victim.

During 18 hours of interrogation - during which Ealy claimed he was deprived of sleep and food - police say Ealy confessed to the murders. A jury found him guilty, but the Illinois appellate court reversed the verdict.

In an opinion written by Justice James C. Murray, and joined by fellow justices Francis Lorenz and R. Eugene Pincham, the court found Chicago Police lacked probable cause when they tookEaly into custody. 

Since the confession and searches of his bedroom stemmed from the faulty arrest, that evidence should have been excluded from trial, Murray wrote. Without that evidence, prosecutors decided not to retry the case.

Cook County Judge Thomas Maloney, who had presided over Ealy's trial, expressed horror when the decision came down, Telander said.

"Maloney said from the bench that the appellate court should take out billboards warning the people of Chicago that this monster had been let loose," he said.

Maloney was convicted in 1993 of taking bribes to fix cases.

Murray died in 1999. Lorenz and Pincham could not be reached for comment. Grant Nothnagle, Hutchison's ex-husband, said he was "stunned" to learn Ealy had gone free in the 1982 case. "I just hope at this point the system does not allow another loophole like that," he said.

At the time of his arrest in 1982, Ealy was on bond for a rape committed in the same Rockwell Gardens building, Telander said. Catholic Charities bailed him out. The prestigious law firm Jenner & Block represented Ealy on his appeal in the Parker case.

Ealy's mother, Katherine, who lives on the South Side, said her son is innocent of the homicide charges. But the shadow of the Parker case never left him, she said.

"It's been a struggle," said Katherine Ealy, adding that "society" failed to land him a good job, which is "what happens when people are wrongly convicted."

Contributing: Lisa Donovan and Dan Rozek

Election Day..and a Libertyville Homicide

With all reporters arriving later in the day due to election day coverage, it left the News-Sun with me as the sole reporter.

It was a day remembered as the Managing Editor received a news tip of a homicide in Libertyville, the first in five years - and sent me to the crime scene to gather information.

Further developments identified the victim as a former Illinois all-state swimmer from Deerfield High School and led to an interstate manhunt.

Subsequently, police reported it was a drug deal gone bad - and cost the life of an 18-year-old - causing grief in an already tense Deerfield community.

Weeks earlier, two students died in an automobile accident indicating the driver was under the influence of drugs prior to the crash during a house party.

Body found in Libertyville

November 8, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

LIBERTYVILLE - An unidentified white male was found shot to death early Tuesday in an SUV outside a dog grooming store early Tuesday morning. According to preliminary reports from the Lake County Coroner's Office, the man, in his late 20s to early 30s, died of several gunshots to the head. 

The case is the first homicide of 2006 in the village and the county's 12th homicide. The most recent homicide occurred in Waukegan on Aug. 13. "We are still cracking down on the identification of the body," Coroner Dr. Richard Keller said late Tuesday.

The Lake County Major Crime Task Force is heading the investigation.

The man was found by a customer of Pampered Pupz shortly after 6:30 a.m. as the customer was dropping a dog off at the dog grooming business on East Park Avenue.

"The customer reported it to the dog groomers after seeing a man laying halfway out of his car," said Libertyville Police Chief Patrick Carey. "We saw blood on the scene and are proceeding with it as a homicide."

Carey indicated the Kia sport utility vehicle in which the victim was found was a rental car. Authorities could not identify the man according to rental records.

"I am positive the victim was not the person who rented the car," Carey said.

The coroner's office was unable to make a positive identification after the first set of fingerprints came back inconclusive.

The coroner will look to make a second attempt to identify the victim.

Carey was not optimistic on the positive identification of the body as of late Tuesday night to the second attempt of identifying the victim via fingerprints.

In addition, police also have to notify the family prior to releasing the name to the public.

The dog grooming business would not comment on the shooting.

The crime scene was cleared out by 11 a.m. Tuesday after Libertyville police and paramedics responded to the 9-1-1 call from the business, according to Carey.

Murder victim, 18, was all-state swimmer

November 9, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

LIBERTYVILLE - The body of an all-state swimmer for Deerfield High School was identified Wednesday as the victim of a shooting. Authorities identified the body found Tuesday morning outside an East Park Avenue business as that of 18-year-old Bernard "Bernie" Soya, most recently of Deerfield. 

Soya was ranked in the top 10 in the freestyle by several local newspapers in northern Illinois during his senior year.

Dr. Suzan Hebson, assistant superintendent for human resources of Township High School District 113, remembers Soya as a disciplined student who was loved by his friends.

"He was a student that had great relationships with his teachers," Hebson said. "He brought a lot to his sport and did the best of his abilities in the classroom. His friends called him 'Bernie.'"

According to Hebson, one of his biggest accomplishments was as a student at Deerfield.

"I know him very well. He was so proud of himself graduating, and he was beaming on that day," Hebson said.

"The last known address (of Soya) was in Deerfield, but it is not known how long he has not resided there," said Libertyville Police Chief Patrick Carey. "I would estimate a year based on my understanding."

Soya was shot several times in the head and hip. Police proceeded with the investigation as a homicide following the discovery of large amounts of blood on the East Park Avenue parking lot of Pampered Pupz.

A customer found Soya in a rented silver Kia sport utility vehicle. The Lake County Major Crime Task Force is still investigating the individual who rented the vehicle.

"The task force has several leads and are aggressively pursuing them," Carey said.

They are also exploring a possible motive and assembling a llist of potential suspects.

Soya has relatives in Ohio and Wisconsin, but no known relatives in Illinois, police said.

"We have met personally with his family either through agents at their hometowns or within our own police force," Carey said.

The Libertyville homicide is the first in the village since 2001.

The 2001 homicide involved a 22-year-old College of Lake County student being strangled by her estranged boyfriend. The victim was a native a Lithuania in the United States on a student visa.

Her body was discovered by her roommate at their Libertyville apartment across the street from Libertyville High School.

The 33-year-old suspect in the 2001 case was sentenced to 45 years in prison in August 2003.

Cops ID person who rented SUV Libertyville murder probe

November 10, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

LIBERTYVILLE - Authorities are still searching for leads in the murder of an 18-year-old all-state swimmer from Deerfield. Bernard Soya was found dead in a rented Kia sport utility vehicle in Libertyville early Tuesday morning. 

Authorities have confirmed the identity of the individual who rented the sport utility vehicle, but are not releasing it to the public during to the ongoing investigation. "We are still actively searching for leads in this case," Libertyville Police Chief Patrick Carey said Thursday.

The Kia Sorento was rented from a west suburban car rental agency.

In addition to lining up potential suspects in the case, authorities are still determining the reason the former Deerfield resident was in Libertyville before the murder.

"We have not ruled anybody out as a suspect at this time," Carey said.

Libertyville has not had a homicide since 2001, while Soya's former high school, Deerfield, has counted its third loss in less than a month.

The chief indicated Soya's death was not a random incident.

"We believe the people involved knew each other," Carey said. "This is not a random act (of violence), there wasn't a stray bullet that hit an innocent bystander."

In addition, Carey is optimistic the suspect will be found and indicated to residents to continue having faith in its law enforcement agents involved with the investigation.

He declined to comment on whether drugs or prior illegal activity was involved in the case.

Warrant issued in slaying of former all-state swimmer

November 15, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

LIBERTYVILLE - An arrest warrant has been issued for an 18-year-old Lake County man in connection with the Nov. 7 slaying of former all-state swimmer Bernard Soya. The warrant issued Monday names Clinton Powers of Libertyville Township, according to Libertyville Police Chief Patrick Carey. 

"We thought he would turn himself in yesterday or today, but has not," Carey said Tuesday. The case is under investigation by local police and the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.

According to Carey, the search for Powers has widened to several states.

The Police Department has not stated whether Powers is considered a fugitive. His last known address was in the 17000 block of Casey Road.

According to a statement issued by the department, the slaying occurred after Powers and Soya met at a parking lot to traffic narcotics. The two had an argument over the deal and Powers allegedly fired a gun at Soya.

Soya, 18, a Deerfield High School graduate, was found dead in a rented silver Kia Sorrento outside a Libertyville dog grooming business.

Toxicology results from the county coroner's office indicate Soya had marijuana in his system before his death Nov. 7.

"It was likely used in a short time before his death," said Coroner Dr. Richard Keller. "He may have used it within a day or so before his death."

Keller believes Soya used the drug recreationally.

No alcohol or other drugs were detected in his system, Keller said.

A customer of Pampered Pupz, dropping his dog off at 6:30 a.m. Nov. 7, found Soya lying halfway out of the vehicle and notified employees who called 9-1-1.

Carey said the SUV had no connection to the murder.

"It was just a victim's vehicle, and the person who rented it has no connection to the murder," Carey said.

Soya was an all-state swimmer of Deerfield High School and finished sixth in the state finals for the 100-meter freestyle event his junior season in the 2004-05 school year. The sixth-place finish set a Deerfield Boys' swimming record.

It is not known where Soya or Powers were prior to the slaying, police said.

The Libertyville Police Department had scheduled a news conference this morning to discuss the case, but it was cancelled it citing the sensitivity of information involved.

Libertyville murder suspect surrenders

November 17, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

LIBERTYVILLE - Lake County authorities took murder suspect Clifford Powers into custody late Thursday morning following an intense, four-day nationwide search. 

According to Libertyville Police Chief Patrick Carey, Powers turned himself in to Lake County sheriff's deputies at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan after speculation that he had headed toward Tennessee.

Powers is being held in County Jail in lieu of $3 million bond, possibly due to his flight risk and knowledge of people outside Illinois, and has a Dec. 11 preliminary hearing date.

"It is a very high bond, but it is still postable," Carey said.

The chief said investigators are still trying to determine where Powers was before turning himself in to authorities.

Powers was accompanied by his attorney and relatives, who were in tears as he was put into cuffs and booked at the courthouse shortly before 11 a.m.

Powers, whose last known address was in Libertyville Township, was wanted in connection with the Nov. 7 slaying of 18-year-old former all-state swimmer Bernard Soya of Deerfield.

The two met late Nov. 6 to make a drug deal in the parking lot of a Libertyville dog grooming business.

According to witness statements, the two began arguing over the transaction and Powers allegedly fired several shots toward Soya's head.

The manhunt for Powers spread to other states when the suspect failed to turn himself into authorities. It was believed he consulted with his attorney for most of the week for instructions on how to turn himself in.

Authorities believed Powers was in the Jackson, Tenn., area following leads he had relatives there. The Libertyville Police Department alerted authorities in Jackson about the suspect, resulting in a front-page article about Powers in Thursday's Jackson Sun newspaper.

Conviction on the murder charge could result in a sentence of 20 years to life in prison.

Warriors remember 'Their Bernie' 'He had the heart of gold'

December 15, 2006

By Jason Arndt

The News-Sun

DEERFIELD - Deerfield High swim coach John Sullivan described the late Bernie Soya as a "leader and hard worker." Soya was killed in Libertyville in the early morning hours Nov. 6, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most accomplished swimmers in Deerfield history. 

The swim team has been in mourning since its season began Dec. 1 and chose to honor Soya by taking his school record and getting it framed to present to Bernie's father.

The Warriors' swimmers also mutually agreed to put Soya's school-record time in the 100-yard freestyle of 47.17 on the sleeves of their shirts this season in tribute of the 2006 Deerfield High graduate.

Soya was gunned down in Libertyville after an attempt of making a drug transaction, all of his former teammates and his coach don't remember him as "that Bernie."

"We decided to think about the positive things he brought to our program," Sullivan said. "I don't want to put Bernie's death as a loss to the team, I want to look at it as a reminder to make good choices and decisions and to understand the impact that we have on each other's lives."

The loss of Soya allowed the team to put their lives into perspective and to motivate them to do better in the pool.

"The team is looking at this everyday and say 'Look I am going to take advantage of the opportunity we have today to swim fast, to compete and to be all that we can be,'" Sullivan said.

The younger swimmers on the team have been able to help the upperclass swimmers who remember Soya as a teammate, but as a friend.

Sullivan said the freshmen and sophomores may not understand the magnitude of the loss, but are able to be supportive of the seniors who knew the school record-holder more.

Three senior co-captains remember him as a caring person who wanted the best for his teammates.

"Bernie really watched out for them and helped them and kept them motivated," said Sullivan. "The guys knew how competitive he was."

Sullivan added Soya had extraordinary leadership no one really saw, taking struggling teammates aside and encouraging them to do better. The coach said the team remembers the little things he did to help the team.

"He had the heart of gold," said Sullivan.

David Woolf was in the same Deerfield swimming club, COHO, as Soya and knew him for nine years.

"There were numerous times when the team would have a tough or bad practice, you wouldn't see it, but you would always hear about it: 'Hey Bernie come up to me and said something really encouraging and I was dim and I became positive (after talking to Soya),'" Woolf said. "He was always the one to make sure we were working hard in practice."

Tim Sally, one of three co-captains, said Soya was known to students throughout the school.

"Everyone is pushing everyone in practice and it really has had a positive effect," Sally said.

Sally was with Woolf and Soya in the COHO swim club, with Sally being part of the club for five years.

Ross Tollaksen did not know Soya prior to his freshman year at Deerfield.

Tollaksen said the school was still responding to a prior tragic car accident involving two other Deerfield students, so the school reacted differently because of the circumstance of the Soya situation.

The entire swimming community of Lake County high schools were affected by the loss, sending condolences to the school and family.

"When a competing high school coach saw (Soya) getting ready, they seemed fearful," Sullivan said. "They knew what he could do."

Community under seige

City of Zion became a community in turmoil following the killing of a 16-year-old gang member attempting to burglarize a home.

Only the homeowners were Muslim and led to significant outcry within the small city near the Illinois/Wisconsin stateline and consequently the homeowners became a target of threats.

Zion Police opted to not file charges against the couple citing self-defense and protection of personal property.

Leaders within the city stepped up and became activists and eventually concluded with a citizen discussion to mend the fences at a town hall meeting.

My reports were picked up off the SunTimes NewsGroup wire service and published in the parent newspaper, the Chicago Sun-Times.

Most bizarre in the case would be the father of the shooting victim returned to Zion following years of living in Baltimore, Md.

During the ensuing outcry of violent threats against the couple and investigation of gang members, the father sent me multiple items through the mail including his police report dating back 20 years.

One of the notes included in the bulk mailing asked me to contact him by phone to discuss any issues he had with the article. All he said was to report that "Shorty" is back in town.

Due to increased tension I handed over the developing stories to another reporter to minimize future contact. The reporter indicated to me later the father was not happy with what was written in my report.

Police, Muslim community address threats

December 5, 2006

Jason Arndt

SunTimes NewsGroup

jarndt@scn1.com

ZION--The City of Zion is working to quash the recent threats to a local Muslim family following a home invasion during which a 16-year-old alleged gang member was killed.

Zion police are reaching out to Muslim groups in the area to prevent any potential hate crimes arising out of the incident. A town hall meeting will be held next week where Zion officials and members of the Muslim community will work with the public to bring a better understanding of the Muslim faith.

"The Zion Police Department has been one of the most helpful on all levels," said Hasan Hakeem, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. "The Police Department has assured us that the (Sharif and Saffiyya) Darr family would not be harmed."

In addition to working with the Muslim community, police are also utilizing its gang unit to determine
the source of the threats, said Police Chief Doug Malcolm.

Gerrell Davis was shot and killed Friday night as the 16-year-old was allegedly attempting to enter the
Jethro Avenue home to steal merchandise from the Darr's online eBay business.

The couple and their relatives have been subjected to online and telephone death threats since the incident.

Zion Police did not issue any charges against Saffiyya Darr because they say she was defending herself, her home and property.

For more details on the Darr's harrowing experience and the upcoming town hall meeting, pick up
Wednesday's edition of the News-Sun and check out our Web site.

Family threatened after killing young intruder

December 7, 2006

By Jason Arndt

SunTimes NewsGroup

  

Police have arrested a 16-year-old youth in connection with a fatal home invasion in far north suburban Zion last Friday.

The juvenile expected to be charged in the case is being held at the Depke Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills, Police Chief Doug Malcolm said Wednesday.

He would not discuss if the teen was an alleged accomplice of Gerrell Davis, who was shot and killed as he entered the home of Sharif and Saffiyya Darr in an attempt to steal shoes from the couple's eBay business.

Davis, also 16, had his face covered with a ski mask and brandished a .22-caliber rifle when he entered the Darrs' home.

Malcolm said police are continuing to investigate the case after the couple and their relatives were subjected to death threats online and through the telephone.

Hasan Hakeem, president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, believes the community has been brought together during this situation.

"The police have been very supportive of the Darr family, and the community has reached out to them," Malcolm said.

CeaseFire, a violence prevention program overseen by Waukegan Township, has also been working to stop any retaliation against the couple.

Masked juvenile forced way into couple's house with rifle

Homeowner fatally shoots armed teen

December 4, 2006

By Jason Arndt

jarndt@scn1.com

The News-Sun

ZION-Sixteen-year-old Gerrall N. Davis of Zion, wearing a ski mask and black knit gloves and carrying a .22-caliber rifle, was shot twice and killed after he broke into a house at 1721 Jethro Ave. 

Police Chief Douglas Malcolm said residents Saffiyya A. Darr and her husband heard knocking on their front door about 10 p.m. They yelled out, asking who it was. Several minutes later, they heard a loud sound at their back door.

Saffiyya retrieved a 9 mm handgun from her bedroom and fired two shots, hitting Davis once in the shoulder and once in the abdomen.

Police arrived at the scene at 10:15 p.m. and found Davis lying on the kitchen floor with the rifle and wearing a black ski mask.

Zion Fire and Rescue took Davis to Vista Medical Center East, Waukegan, where he was pronounced dead at midnight by emergency room personnel.

"The gunshot to the abdomen was the fatal wound," Lake County Coroner Dr. Richard Keller said after an autopsy.

According to Malcolm, the Darrs had no connection with the intruder.

Evidence technicians found that the door had been forced open and the doorjamb shattered, Malcolm said.

"The investigation is still ongoing, but as far as we know, no charges have been filed against Darr," Malcolm said. "If you are sitting at home at night and someone kicks the door open, you have the right to defend yourself."

Malcolm said Davis was placed on juvenile probation in 2005 for aggravated battery.

Police expect to release information today or Tuesday regarding the licensing of both weapons involved in the incident.

Correspondent A.J. Goldsmith contributed to this report.

Taser use in Wauconda

Routine review leads to inquiring story

Researching common council agendas in a majority of jurisdictions led me to generate an original story with high approval from the News Editor.

When I sat at my desk paging through agendas in North Chicago, Lake Forest, Waukegan, Antioch, etc. - one city stood out to me - Wauconda.

At the top of the agenda was an approval to fund and eventually utilize tasers in the Wauconda Police force.

A story was born when I printed out the agenda and showed it to the news editor and he instantly said:

"We got a story, want to do a story on tasers, Arndt?"

Immediately conducted research by contacting all law enforcement agencies in Lake County and gauge opinions on taser use and if they utilize them.

City of Waukegan Police Chief stepped forward and was available for an interview and in the process learned about how Common Council meetings are conducted and items are approved.

Ouch! This could hurt!

By Jason Arndt
jarndt@scn1.com

The Wauconda Police Department could be the latest Lake County law enforcement group to add Tasers to its arsenal.

Including the Lake County Sheriff's Office, there are four law enforcement agencies in the county utilizing Tasers as part of an officer's defense. The other three agencies with Tasers are 

Waukegan, Libertyville and Mundelein.

Despite skepticism among several law enforcement officials, Waukegan is looking to expand its Taser program by purchasing an additional 10 to 15 Tasers to utilize on the streets.

Police Chief William Biang will propose the new additions to the force to the City Council.

"We did a large amount of research on Tasers and it is another tool in addition to pepper spray and rubber bullets," Biang said of the electronic stun guns.Tasers use compressed nitrogen to project two small probes connected to the weapon at subjects and when deployed the person is incapacitated by an electronic impulse which causes the immediate loss of neuromuscular control.

Biang said he has confidence in the plan for Wauconda's efforts in adding Tasers as a defense mechanism.

"Wauconda making the decision to utilize them is no different than Waukegan," Biang said. "Or any other community that decides to put less-lethal alternatives in their hands."In addition, the chief said the Wauconda community likely did extensive research and weighed the positive and negative aspects of Tasers before making a final decision.

"Usually (the board) will follow the chief's recommendations because they know that we are going to do our background and follow through on these things," Biang said. "And ultimately, we are responsible for what we do in our departments, just like the chief of Wauconda for what happens in his department."I think what they are going to do is make a good, educated decision and utilize it professionally," he added.According to Wauconda Village Administrator Dan Quick, the reception of the proposal by Police Chief Tony Jacobson was positive at a recent Village Board session and will be voted on during the board's Nov. 7 meeting. The village will be looking to purchase seven Tasers for a total of $7,500.

Jacobson and the Village Board's Police Committee had discussions regarding the addition of Tasers to assist in apprehending disorderly suspects.

"I think it is an additional tool for our officers to use on patrol when subjects are out of control," Quick said.Lindenhurst Police Chief Jack McKeever is one of several agencies not utilizing Tasers due to incomplete research of the defense weapon.

"We don't use that particular item because we are looking for clear research on the safety of it," McKeever said.The chief mentioned the Taser companies have been the only company conducting research on the electromagnetic tool and is looking for an objective observation on the safety of it before deciding whether to go forward with the plan.

McKeever was in Boston for a National Convention of Police Chiefs and networked with other police chiefs about the use of Tasers in their jurisdictions.According to McKeever, he heard reports from colleagues on fatalities and will use a "wait-and-see" approach in adding the tool to the Lindenhurst force.

The potential for new Tasers in Waukegan will cost $1,200 for each, with new equipment added such as a camera to use as evidence.

Biang said the Taser is useful because it ensures the safety of officers and is a less-lethal force to use on offenders when attempting to apprehend them.

"We study the periodicals, we study what is going on in the industry in the field of law enforcement and we are aware of all the so-called negative information," Biang said.According to various sources, there have been more than 300 fatalities after the use of Tasers on suspects in the United States.

"We have heard of people dying after the use of the Taser, but we have not heard of anyone dying (as a direct cause) of the Taser," Biang said.Biang noted a past situation within the Waukegan Police Department in which a suspect died after being tased by officers, but the coroner's office confirmed it was due to an overdose of drugs.

"It shouldn't be identified as something we use to injure anybody," Biang said. "What we use it for is to protect our officers, community and ultimately the offender we are bringing into custody."