Crime & Safety
UPDATE: 911 Call: Adult Men Beating Boy with a Bat in Palatine
Palatine resident calls 911, says a group of adult men are beating a juvenile with a baseball bat in the street.
UPDATE:
Officers did not find a bat at the 2100 block of N. Heather Lane on Tuesday night, according to Palatine Police Cmdr. Kurt Schroeder.
Original reports from the 911-call card stated a 25-year-old man was found holding at a baseball bat but after speaking to the officers who responded to the fight in progress call, Schroeder said that is incorrect.
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Police did not find a baseball bat but that does not mean a beating did not happen. Schroeder said, “If someone calls 911, chances are something happened.” According to Schroder if officers thought there was no real incident the call would have been coded as an “unfounded report,” that did not happen in this case.
ORIGINAL STORY:
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The Palatine Police Department responded to a fight in progress call at the 2100 block of N. Heather Lane Tuesday night.
The 911 caller said four to five men were beating a boy with a baseball bat near a white van parked at the Heritage Manor condominium complex.
When police arrived at scene on N. Heather Lane Palatine Police Cmdr. Kurt Schroeder said, “We were told there were a bunch of juveniles were fighting out there.” At the sight of flashing lights, most if not all of the juveniles scattered.
As people began to disperse officers located a group of four to five adult men with one baseball bat near a white van parked at the end of N. Heather Lane, where the street comes to a dead end.
According to Schroeder, a 25-year-old man was holding the baseball bat but officers did not see the man use the bat in the fight. “It was in his hand but he was not using it when officers arrived,” Schroeder said.
Just as the 911 caller reported, Palatine Police Officers located the van, the group of men and the baseball bat, but no victim.
As police began to look for a possible victim officers were quickly cautioned. According to the radio call, at least one of the adult men was known to Palatine's Gang and Tactical Unit.
The 911 caller could not identify the victim and did not recognize any of the adult men. At the scene the caller asked officers to conceal the information that was initially given during the 911 call, according to Schroeder.
About a dozen people who live in the condominium complex refused to speak about the fight on Thursday afternoon.
One resident who asked to remain anonymous claimed to be a witness to Tuesday night’s beating. With a clear view of N. Heather Lane from the front window, the witness admitted a fight did occur, a baseball bat was used and one juvenile was involved. The witness did not know the victim and did not know the extent of the boy’s injuries.
According to police, no one was transported to the hospital and no injuries were reported Tuesday night. Schroeder said, “If there is no victim, no injuries, really nobody to talk to, there is not much we can do.” Schroeder said no witnesses were available or willing to speak to officers. In an area where there are reports of gang activity, people typically do not want to speak to the police, Schroeder said, “Yea, that’s usually the way things go out there.”
With little to work with, Palatine Police Department concluded its 30-minute investigation at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday.
No arrests were made and no police report was filed. The 25-year-old who was found holding the baseball bat was issued a trespassing warning.
