Island Lake Police reduce charges against vandal after she apologizes, seek help

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A woman who's admitted to trashing the lobby of the police station in Island Lake last April has avoided a felony conviction – and possibly jail time – by writing an apology.

Island Lake Police Chief Jennifer Paulus said security camera video caught the vandalism as it happened.

“She walked in to our, our lobby and sat down on the bench, looked up at the camera, made a gesture with her middle finger toward the camera, and pulled her hood up over her head, and then proceeded to tear every pamphlet pamphlet holder, corkboard off of the walls that we had. Made a little smiley laughing sound and then left,” Paulus said.

Officers eventually arrested a 35-year-old Schaumburg woman, who Paulus said was having a mental health episode.

Paulus said what the suspect really needed was help, and the department agreed to less severe charges if the woman agreed to seek assistance and apologize to the department, which she's done.

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