2 charged, 1 sought in downtown St. Charles attack

Police arrested two teens and are looking for a third after an attack Saturday night near the front of city hall during the town’s annual Riverfest celebration, authorities said.

Jerry E. Flalka III, 18, of the 900 block of South Ninth Avenue, and Mark R. Runge, 17, of the 4N200 block of Pioneer Court, both of St. Charles, each face two counts of aggravated assault causing great bodily harm and aggravated battery in a public place, along with one count of mob action, police said.

Police spokesman Paul McCurtain said Flalka, Runge and another person are suspected of attacking a group of three men at 9:51 p.m. on East Main Street, just east of Riverside Avenue.

“They have no idea who they were,” McCurtain said. “According to the victims, they were walking down the sidewalk and three subjects began yelling obscenities at them for no reason. The three offenders walked over to them and started punching them.”

Two of the victims, a 20-year-old from South Elgin and a 19-year-old from Carol Stream, had cuts and bruises on their faces and heads and were taken to Delnor Hospital in Geneva. A third man, a 21-year-old from Carol Stream, was not hurt.

Flalka, Runge and another man ran off but were arrested later than night on the 100 block of North Seventh Avenue, McCurtain said. The third subject ran off again and remains at large, McCurtain said.

The final suspect is only described as a Caucasian in his late teens with short dark hair.

Runge and Flalka are free on bond and due in court on Thursday.

The most serious charges they face are felonies that carry a penalty ranging from probation up to five years in prison if convicted.