Public Safety

The St. Charles Fire Department is holding a traditional “Push-In” Ceremony and Dedication of Engine Company 101. All are welcome to come out Saturday, Nov. 16, at 9 a.m. at Fire Station #1, 112 N. Riverside Ave., St. Charles.

After brief remarks, the old Engine 101 will be retired and the new Engine 101 will be pushed into the station. Following this, Tri-Com will sound a Still Alarm.

The St. Charles Police Department completed the Halloween Mobilization Campaign associated with the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). Law enforcement agencies throughout Illinois participated in this effort to save lives by getting impaired drivers off the roads and more people buckled up. The enforcement crackdown took place from Saturday, October 19, 2019 through the early morning hours of Sunday, November 3.  Officers assigned to this detail made:

Update: 11/2/19

A St. Charles man was charged with Aggravated Assault, a class A Misdemeanor, and Disorderly Conduct in relation to an incident that occurred at Wal-Mart, 150 Smith Road on Thursday night.    

Arrested: Frederick J. Murphy II, M/W, 61 years of age of the 1400 block of E. Main Street, St. Charles, Illinois 60174.

At 8:34 p.m. on Oct. 21, the St. Charles Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a kitchen fire at 1907 Moore Avenue. Firefighters were on the scene by 8:39 p.m. and found light smoke in the house. A fire was located in the kitchen and firefighters were able to confirm the fire was extinguished within 10 minutes of arrival. Firefighters then checked for any fire extension, remaining on the scene until 9:53 p.m. to provide ventilation of the smoke and complete the fire investigation.

The St. Charles Police Department is continuing its support of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) for FY2020 and reminds motorists to fasten their seat belts over the Halloween Holiday period or run the risk of receiving a ticket. The objective of the STEP program is to reduce the incidence of motor vehicle crashes and the resulting injuries and fatalities, through increased, highly visible enforcement of occupant restraint, impaired driving, speed and pedestrian safety during national and state enforcement campaigns.

While working with Geneva Police Department to investigate a threats complaint, one of our officers took a suspect in to custody. It was discovered that the suspect had in his possession what appeared to be a possible incendiary device. As a precaution, we contacted the Kane County Bomb & Arson Squad to assist and evacuated some nearby residents. That suspicious device has been deemed safe but as a further precaution we are checking a vehicle and residence in the area.

On 100119 at approx. 0820 hrs a juvenile was riding her bike to school in the 1400 block of Moore Ave. The juvenile reported that she was approached by a male subject who was wearing a black hoodie and black ski mask, black pants and black boots. The subject reportedly held out a baggie containing unknown pills and asked the juvenile if she wanted some. The juvenile rode away and was followed by the suspect briefly before she lost sight of him. The juvenile went to school but did not report the incident to them. The juvenile reported the incident to her mother after school.

At 3:19 p.m.  Sept. 20, 2019, the St. Charles Fire Department was dispatched to an activated fire alarm at 1 Illinois Street. Firefighters were on the scene in three minutes and, upon arrival, found a grease fire at the Eden on the River restaurant. A sprinkler head had activated and ultimately extinguished the fire however, smoke had spread through both floors of the structure. The alarm was upgraded upon arrival and the structure was checked for fire extension.

Fire Chief Joseph Schelstreet has announced his retirement from the St. Charles Fire Department, effective Oct. 4, 2019. Schelstreet has served as Fire Chief since 2013. Assistant Fire Chief Scott Swanson has been named Acting Fire Chief of the department.

Schelstreet joined the St. Charles Fire Department full-time in 1988 as a firefighter. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1992, Captain in 1997, Assistant Chief in 2003 and served as Acting Fire Chief in 2012 before stepping into the Chief role permanently in 2013.