Kane County news briefs

Brian Michael Rini,23, Medina, Ohio

CINCINNATI
More charges for Ohio man in Pitzen impersonation

An Ohio man who claimed to be missing Aurora youth Timmothy Pitzen has been indicted on three more charged by a federal grand jury.

Brian Michael Rini, 23, of Medina, Ohio, was charged last week with two counts of lying to federal authorities and a single count of aggravated identity theft.

Rini was arrested on April 3 after he was found wandering on a street and claimed he had been abducted and abused by two men. He also claimed to be Timmothy Pitzen, the Aurora youth who disappearance in 2011.

DNA testing proved Rini was not Pitzen.

AURORA
Police release portion of  Pratt surveillance video

The Aurora Police Department last week published a portion of the surveillance video which captured the Feb. 15 workplace shooting in which a gunman killed five co-workers and wounded five officers at the Henry Pratt facility in Aurora.

The video depicts the shooter as he prepares to ambush approaching officers, and shows the officers’ initial approach and subsequent entry into the Pratt facility. Officials said the shooter was in possession of one pistol and eight pistol magazines.

The shooter, identified as Gary Martin, 45, fired 64 rounds during the incident.

Police had previously posted emergency radio traffic and 911 calls to the police regarding the incident that drew headlines across the country.

“As with our decision to release audio related to this event, we were not careless in our judgment here, and we understand the disturbing nature of these images,” said Sgt. Bill Rowley, the APD’s public information officer, in a Wednesday news release. “We understand, however, that as a matter of public interest and our ongoing commitment to transparency within our community, you have a right to see for yourself what transpired.”

Portions of the video were excluded “to protect the privacy rights of those involved,” Rowley said.

Officials said there is no significant surveillance video available from inside the facility, other than that which captures the front foyer area, which is shown.

The surveillance cameras did not record sound.

The video is available on the police department’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AuroraILPolice/)

AURORA
Pair charged in dating app robbery

An Elburn man and an Aurora juvenile were both arrested after luring another man to an apartment complex using a dating app and robbing him.

Hayden Motley, 20, of Elburn, and an Aurora juvenile were both charged with Robbery (Class 2 felony) after an investigation which revealed that they had lured an Aurora man to an apartment complex in the 2100 block of Best Place using a dating app.

On April 16, at around 2:30 PM, the victim arrived at the apartment complex believing he would meet a female who he met on the dating app “Scout.” The male was instructed to meet his date in the parking lot but instead was confronted by two males who placed him in a chokehold and took his wallet. The victim was punched in the face but reported no serious injuries.

Motley and the juvenile accomplice then fled the scene but were located nearby by Aurora police officers. They were both positively identified by witnesses in the area. Both were charged with one count of Robbery, a Class 2 Felony. Motley was transferred to the Kane County Jail to await arraignment on bond. The juvenile was transferred to the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center for a similar appearance.

Aurora Police Detectives indicate that Motley and the Juvenile may be part of a “robbery crew” who have been performing similar type robberies in the area over the past several weeks.

They ask that anyone with information about this case or any similar cases, please contact the Aurora Police Department Investigations Division at 630-256-5500 or the Aurora Area Crime Stoppers at 630-892-1000.

AURORA
Brandy, En Vogue, Arrested 
Development coming in August

Thomas J. Weisner RiverEdge Park announces a new date for a star-studded triple bill featuring R&B stars Brandy and En Vogue and hip hop trio Arrested Development.

Originally scheduled for July 20, this trio of top R&B and hip hop acts will now perform their one-night-only, Chicago-area concert Saturday, Aug. 17 at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway in downtown Aurora. Gates open at 5 p.m. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $30-$55. Tickets are on sale now at RiverEdgeAurora.com, via phone at 630-896-6666, or in-person at RiverEdge’s satellite box office, Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday–Saturday. Fees not included.

Aurorans Lina Fuller, left, and Vivian Fuller, right, pose for a photo with the Easter bunny last Saturday during Aurora Noon Lions Club’s annual benefit pancake breakfast at Luigi’s Pizza in Aurora. Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry in Aurora will receive a minimum of $250 from the event. (Al Benson photo)

BATAVIA
Water St. Studio hosts Congressional Art Show

Water Street Studios welcomes the annual Congressional Art Competition to their Dempsey Family Gallery on April 26.

The competition is sponsored by U.S. Rep Lauren Underwood and will feature artwork by high school students within Illinois’ 14th District. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in each Congressional District.

The community is invited to celebrate local, young artists with Underwood at Water Street Studios, 160 South Water Street in Batavia, on Friday, April 26, 2019 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The winning artwork will be announced at 7:30 p.m. For more information visit: https://underwood.house.gov/services/art-competition.

  1. CHARLES

National prescription drug

take back day is April 27

The St. Charles Police Department is joining Northwestern Medicine in hosting a prescription drug collection site at the Northwestern Medicine Convenient Care St. Charles, 2900 Foxfield Road on April 27.

The effort, held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will safely dispose of unused prescription pills and patches at the Convenient Care Center. No needles, sharps or liquids will be accepted.

Unused medicines that sit in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse and that flushing some medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash could pose potential environmental hazards.

For more information on National Drug Take Back Day, visit https://takebackday.dea.gov

AURORA
City offers free home Internet security course

The City of Aurora’s IT Department is collaborating with KnowBe4, the world’s largest internet security awareness training platform, to offer Aurora residents a free home internet security course.  

As part of the City of Aurora’s Technology Strategy Plan unveiled last month, the IT Department has a keen focus on cybersecurity and protecting all stakeholders from unsafe online activities

The course is designed to assist all members of the family in making wise decisions when it comes to internet usage.  Using real-life examples, the interactive videos show the dangers of the internet and what families need to do to stay safe.  

The eight lessons include: Passwords, Online Banking Security, Keeping Your Identity Safe, Avoiding Malware, Keeping Personal Information Confidential, Protecting Children Online, Securing Your Home Network and Email & Attachments Safety. Each section has a live demonstration showing how the online criminals take advantage of unsuspecting users and finishes up with a security check quiz at the end.

To get started using the course, visit  //www.knowbe4.com/homecourse. Enter the password homecourse when prompted

ST. CHARLES
 Free programs explore preservation, history

The St. Charles History Museum, St. Charles Historic Commission, St. Charles Public Library, the St. Charles Park District, and the Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley will team up to hold several free programs throughout May that highlight the importance of preservation and the history of St. Charles

  •    Dr. Steve Smunt of the St. Charles Historic Preservation Commission will host “This Old House – St. Charles” on Thursday, May 2 at 7 p.m. a program on the history of some of St. Charles most notable homes. The presentation will be held in the Carnegie Community Room at the St. Charles Public Library, One South Sixth Ave.
  •     Carol Yetken, Landscape Architect and Historian of CYLA Design will host a presentation on the History of St. Charles Parks at the Pottawatomie Community Center, 8 North Avenue, on Saturday, May 11 at 10 a.m. The program is organized by Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley.
  • On Saturday, May 18, the History Museum and Park District will partner to hold a Historic House Walk through the Pottawatomie neighborhood. The walking tours begin at 11 a.m. in Pottawatomie Park, with tours departing every half hour until 3 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided, courtesy of Nothing Bundt Cakes in Geneva.
  •   On Saturday, May 25 during the St. Charles Fine Arts show, the St. Charles History Museum will hold a living history presentation at the museum, 215 E. Main Street, with Civil War reenactors who will provide information on the 8th Illinois Cavalry, which trained in St. Charles.

For more information and to register for these events, visit www.stcmuseum.org/events or contact the St. Charles History Museum at 630-584-6967.