Crime & Public Safety
Monday, June 8, 2026 · Wheaton
Park City Cop Charged with Sexually Abusing Woman During Traffic Stops
A part-time Park City police officer faces 10 felony counts for allegedly sexually abusing a woman under threat of arrest during two traffic stops in January. Patrick Cacho, 29, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, exploited his badge in the Lake County village, prompting a swift Illinois State Police probe. The judge cited 'predatory behavior' in ordering him held without bail.
Chicago Woman Charged in Shooting of Teen at Pullman Back-to-School Event
Nearly two years after a back-to-school event turned deadly in Chicago's Pullman neighborhood, authorities arrested a 31-year-old woman accused of shooting a 15-year-old boy in the spine, leaving him wheelchair-bound. The incident, captured on police body cameras, stemmed from a parking lot confrontation outside Gately Park Stadium. Darnisha Jones faces attempted murder charges as the community grapples with the lasting impact.
Monday, June 8, 2026
Elmwood Park Squad Car Hit Head-On on Chicago's West Side
An Elmwood Park police marked squad car was struck head-on by a gray sedan on Chicago's West Side in an overnight collision that authorities are now investigating. The crash, which involved officers responding to the scene, has drawn scrutiny as police work to determine the cause and circumstances of the impact.
Monday, June 8, 2026
Illinois Retail Workers Under Siege as Violent Thefts Surge 7%
A new report from the Illinois Organized Retail Crime Association reveals that violent retail crime is accelerating across the state, with thefts involving weapons threats or injuries climbing 7% in the past year. The troubling trend has prompted Cook County prosecutors to more than double retail theft charges, but a stubborn pattern of repeat offenders continues to drive most of the damage.
Monday, June 8, 2026
Hoffman Estates Teen Stabs 2 in Arlington Heights After Smoking Weed
An 18-year-old Hoffman Estates man faces attempted murder charges after allegedly stabbing two acquaintances in an Arlington Heights apartment following a marijuana-fueled night. The early-morning attack on April 30 left victims hospitalized with severe lacerations. Damian R. Engelmann remains jailed as prosecutors build their case.
Monday, June 8, 2026
Strangled in Schaumburg: Woman Dead, Man Held After Welfare Check
A 43-year-old woman was found strangled to death in her Schaumburg home Thursday night, prompting a homicide probe by local police. A man known to her was taken into custody at the scene, though no charges have been filed. Authorities assure northwest suburban residents there is no ongoing threat.
Monday, June 8, 2026