Police: Huntley man was holding hammer, hiding in bushes

A 19-year-old Huntley High School graduate was arrested early Wednesday after he was found hiding in the bushes with a hammer outside the Lake in the Hills home of a former high school mate, authorities said.

Daniel W. Bockenhauer, 19, of the 11600 block of Lori Lane in Huntley, was arrested at about 2:15 a.m. on the 4000 block of Heron Drive after Lake in the Hills responded to a possible residential burglary in progress, Lake in the Hills Police Chief of Patrol Services Dave Brey said.

A female occupant of the home was an acquaintance of Bockenhauer’s, who graduated from Huntley High two years ago, Brey said. He didn’t know what year the woman graduated high school. The woman was in the house with her mother at the time, he said.

“We don’t have information at this point that he was trying to harm her. We are still looking into it,” Brey said. “He tried to gain entry to the house in more than one spot, and we do not think he used the hammer.”

Bockenhauer told police he brought the hammer as protection, Brey said. “That’s what he told us. It doesn’t mean that’s what we believe. We are still looking into the matter.”

Bockenhauer was arrested without incident and charged with attempted criminal trespass to residence, criminal trespass to real property and two counts of disorderly conduct, Brey said. He was turned over to the custody of Huntley police, who already had an investigation pending regarding Bockenhauer, Brey said. He declined to give more information. Huntley police did not return a call for comment.