Wheaton man arrested for climbing smokestack

A Wheaton man is among eight Greenpeace anti-pollution protesters arrested Wednesday after climbing down from the smokestack of a coal-fired plant in Pilsen.

William Rosenwinkel, 22, of Wheaton, and the seven other protesters were charged with felony criminal damage to property and misdemeanor criminal trespass.

The protesters were arrested after climbing down from the smokestack after 24 hours perched in the air Wednesday.

Also charged were Julie Farris, 31, of Oregon, Michelle Ogden, 27, of Washington D.C., Cy Wagoner, 34, of Arizona, John Watterberg, 32, of South Carolina, Elizabeth Mitchell, 26; of California, Gabriel Gerow, 29, of California, and Benjamin Smith, 31, also of California.

The eight are expected to appear in bond court later today.

The eight were charged criminal damage to property for painting the words “Quit Coal” on the 450-foot smokestack of the Fisk plant in the 1000 block of W. Cermak Road.

They climbed down Wednesday due to inclement weather moving in, officials said.