Crime & Safety

Regional Police Report: Spa Owner Charged With Prostitution; Teacher Faces Child Pornography Charges

The following police-related items were pulled from area Patches. An arrest is merely an accusation, not a determination of guilt.

Skokie

Police Officer Charged for Shoving Prisoner Face First into Cement Bench

Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez' office has charged Skokie Police Officer Michael Hart with felony charges of aggravated battery and official misconduct after a March 10 incident in which he forcibly shoved Cassandra Feuerstein, who was undergoing processing at the police station, into a cement bench, shattering bones and resulting in severe injuries.

Click here for video of the incident

Earlier: Lawyer: Skokie Cop Victim's Face 'Split Open'

Glenview

Man Charged with First Degree Murder in Crash that Killed Couple

A 28-year-old Glenview man now faces charges of first-degree murder following a head-on car crash that killed a Morton Grove husband and wife this September.

Daniel Shmelevich, 28, appeared in Cook County Circuit Court in Skokie Thursday, where he was charged with two additional counts of first-degree murder and four counts of aggravated driving under the influence, according to Glenview Police. 

The charges relate to a car crash that took place Sunday, Sept. 22, in the 1000 block of Milwaukee Avenue. Sean O'Brien, 37, of Morton Grove, died immediately after the crash, while his wife, Lisa O'Brien, 34, died Oct. 9.

Shmelevich was previously charged with reckless homicide, improper lane usage and driving under the influence. He is being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on Nov. 6.

St. Charles


Teacher Faces Child Pornography Charges

A Wredling Middle School teacher has been placed on administrative leave and barred from school district property after Sycamore police arrested him at his home early Monday on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography.

St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 announced late Monday afternoon that it had placed Jerome B.  McCauley on administrative leave pending further investigation, and that he cannot access school district property.

Find out what's happening in Skokiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Kane County Chronicle reported that McCauley, 45, is being held in the DeKalb County Jail after Sycamore police arrived at 6 a.m. Monday to execute a search warrant at his home on the 300 block of Grant Street, Sycamore. Police found digital images and videos of child pornography, Sycamore police Lt. Darrell Johnson said.

For more on this story click here.

Find out what's happening in Skokiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Crystal Lake

Spa Owner Charged with Prostitution

A woman operating the Spring Spa on the north side of Crystal Lake has been arrested for prostitution.

Shufang Lu, 49, of the 200 block of W. 19th St., Chicago, was arrested Monday, and charged with one count of prostitution and one count of unlawful practice of massage therapy, according to the McHenry County Sheriff's Office.

"We applaud the public for their assistance and diligence in providing us with information of this suspicious activity,” Undersheriff Andrew Zinke said.

The Sheriff's Office conducted an undercover investigation at the spa, located in the 5600 block of Route 31 in unincorporated Crystal Lake, after receiving complaints from the nearby community of suspicious activity at the business, according to a Sheriff's Office news release. 
 
Investigators discovered Lu does not have a license to practice massage therapy, and the Spring Spa does not have a valid business license. Lu was taken into custody on Oct. 28, 2013 and transported to the McHenry County Correctional Facility.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity, using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime, or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Skokie