Latest news with #DownersGrovePoliceDepartment
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Second juvenile charged in Downers Grove armed robbery: prosecutors
The Brief A 17-year-old Aurora boy has been charged in an April armed robbery in Downers Grove. The victim was robbed at gunpoint by a group who took $110. One of the teens was arrested in Colorado and returned to DuPage County. DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. - A second teenager has been charged in connection with an armed robbery that targeted a woman walking alone in Downers Grove last month, authorities said. What we know The 17-year-old boy, a Venezuelan national living in Aurora, appeared in court Thursday morning for a detention hearing. A judge ordered him held until at least his next court appearance, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. He is charged with one count of armed robbery with a firearm, a Class X felony, stemming from a robbery that occurred just after 8:30 p.m. on April 22 in the 4900 block of Forest Avenue. The backstory Downers Grove police said a woman was walking alone when she was approached by four people. One of them tried to grab her purse while another lifted his shirt to show a handgun in his waistband and shouted, "Money, money." The woman handed over $110 before the group fled, according to prosecutors. Further investigation led to one juvenile being charged on Thursday and another juvenile who was found to be living in Colorado, according to the state's attorney. A judge issued an arrest warrant for the juvenile in Colorado on May 7. The juvenile was then brought back to DuPage County on May 16 to face charges. What they're saying "The apprehension of a second individual allegedly involved in the armed robbery of an innocent woman as she was walking home demonstrates DuPage County law enforcement's commitment to the safety of our residents, communities and businesses," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. "As I said when this juvenile's co-respondent was charged, lawlessness is not who we are in DuPage County and anyone who chooses to engage in the type of behavior as alleged in this case will be held accountable. Again, I commend the Downers Grove Police Department for their efforts in the identification and apprehension of a second suspect in this case. I also thank Assistant State's Attorney Nick Catizone for his efforts in preparing a strong case against both juvenile suspects." "I am pleased that we were able to bring this investigation of a serious violent crime that occurred near our downtown business district to a conclusion with the arrests of two offenders for armed robbery," Downers Grove Chief of Police Michael DeVries said. "I commend our Investigations Unit for their diligence over several weeks to identify and apprehend all offenders related to this incident. I would like to thank DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin and his office, as well as the Aurora Police Department for their assistance with the investigation.
CBS News
26-04-2025
- CBS News
Police seek information after 2 men robbed at gunpoint in Downers Grove
Downers Grove police are asking the public for information after two men were robbed at gunpoint Friday evening. Officers responded to the 1600 block of 75th Street for a report of an armed robbery around 8 p.m. Preliminary information indicated that the men were robbed of cash and their cell phones. The suspect was identified as a Black male of unknown age, standing at 6 feet tall, with a muscular build and shoulder-length dreads with yellow/gold highlights. He was last seen leaving the scene, heading southbound across 75th Street, wearing a black hooded sweater, black pants, and a ski mask. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Downers Grove Police Department at 630-434-5600.
Chicago Tribune
14-04-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Downers Grove South teacher pleads not guilty to sexual assault, abuse of student
A Downers Grove South High School teacher appeared briefly in DuPage County Circuit Court Monday, where she pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing a student. Christina Formella, 30, is charged with one count of criminal sexual assault and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Formella, a special education teacher who also coached soccer, was arrested last month by the Downers Grove Police Department after a student and his mother told police about the alleged abuse, which authorities say occurred when the boy was 15 years old. Formella faces four to 15 years in prison if convicted of criminal sexual assault, prosecutors Jaclyn McAndrew and Mike Fisher said. The count is not subject to probation. One of the criminal sexual abuse charges is punishable by four to 15 years in prison while the other is subject to to three to seven years in prison, prosecutors said. The abuse counts are eligible for probation. Formella would have to register on the sex offender registry if convicted on any of the three counts, McAndrew said. Formella's attorney, Todd Pugh, declined comment after the hearing. The case was continued until June 17, though Judge Mia McPherson will hold a hearing Friday to determine whether cameras will be allowed in the courtroom. Cameras or video equipment of any kind, including cell phones, are typically prohibited inside DuPage courtrooms without permission. Both prosecutors and Formella's attorneys have asked McPherson to bar photographers from the courtroom after the Daily Mail Online filed a request last week. Before Monday's arraignment, the case garnered substantial public attention in traditional media and social media. As a result, the victim and his family have already suffered embarrassment in the case and object to any extended media coverage, prosecutors said in court documents. Crime victims have the right to be treated with fairness and respect and be free from harassment, intimidation and abuse throughout the criminal process, McAndrew and Fisher wrote. Formella's attorneys also objected to the Daily Mail's request saying the teacher, her family and neighbors have been repeatedly harassed by tabloid reporters seeking to sensationalize the case. Local law enforcement have had to be called numerous times since her arrest, Pugh said in court records. The presence of a photojournalist could create a heightened media spectacle that could prejudice potential jurors and the public against the defendant, Pugh wrote. The defendant has a right to a fair trial, he wrote. Formella has been granted pre-trial release while awaiting trial. According to court documents, the boy's mother learned of the alleged assault after she bought the boy a new phone to replace one that broke. After signing into iCloud, text messages began populating, and the mother noticed a text thread with a phone number and no name or photo, documents said. The boy said it belonged to Formella, according to court records. Text messages between the two were indicative of a sexual relationship, court documents said. The boy and his mother went to the Downers Grove Police Department on March 15 to report a sexual assault that allegedly occurred inside a classroom in December 2023 when the boy was 15 years old and Formella was 28, court records said. The teen was later interviewed by an investigator with the DuPage County Children's Advocacy Center, court records said. According to the boy, he last spoke with Formella in February 2024, and they both acknowledged that it was wrong, court documents said. Formella was arrested March 16. Detectives seized Formella's phone and found various diary entries in the 'Notes' app that allegedly talked about the student, according to court records. Detectives interviewed Formella, who 'adamantly denied having sex' with the teen, court documents said. Formella allegedly told detectives that 'everybody comes after her because she is good looking, and she is just a good person,' and she cared about the victim, the documents said. Formella also admitted during the interview that she knew the relationship was wrong, but she was unable to stop it because she cared about the teen so much, court documents said. During the interview, Formella also presented a narrative in which the boy was using messages to blackmail her, authorities said. Court records show that Formella claimed the boy grabbed her phone when it was unattended and typed in her passcode, which he saw her use before, sent the text messages about a sexual encounter to his phone and then deleted them from her phone. Formella claimed that she did not know that these text messages existed, the court records said. Formella also alleged that the boy was stalking her and that her husband was aware, though he told detectives that he knew nothing about this, court documents said. Formella said that any personal thoughts detailed in her phone's 'Notes' app were a way for her to process her anxiety, court records said. Any references to sex were not about the teen she told police, according to court records. Michelle Mullins is a freelancer.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Pedestrian struck, killed by Metra train in Downers Grove; delays expected
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – A pedestrian was struck and killed by a Metra train Monday afternoon in Downers Grove. The crash happened just after 4:30 p.m. Metra officials said BNSF inbound and outbound trains are stopped near Downers Grove/Main Street due to train #1272 hitting a pedestrian. The Downers Grove Police Department later said the pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. SkyCam 9 flew over the scene and observed multiple police cars around the train. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Extensive delays are expected, according to Metra. The Downers Grove Police Department is assisting the Metra Police Department with its investigation. No other information was released. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
