Charges won't be filed against ex- Lombard trustee who flashed badge

Authorities have decided against prosecuting ex-Lombard Trustee Steve Sebby despite surveillance video showing he flashed his village badge at a local business owner before removing a former adversary's campaign signs earlier this year.

"We looked at all the allegations, and his actions did not rise to the level of prosecution," said Paul Darrah, spokesman for DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett, who declined requests for direct comment.

Sebby, a village board member for eight years before he was elected last spring to the Glenbard High School District 87 board, said at the time he was "just picking up litter off the public right-of-way." He did not return repeated calls for comment for this story.

The signs belonged to current Lombard Trustee Laura Fitzpatrick, who made a failed bid in the Feb. 5 Republican primary for a seat on the DuPage County Board. She contacted police after learning from the business owner that her signs had been removed.

Sebby and Fitzpatrick, a community activist at the time, were on opposite sides of the emotional debate over saving the DuPage Theatre, which since has been razed.

Video from surveillance cameras at the Phillips 66 gas station at Main Street and North Avenue was reviewed by the Daily Herald. It shows Sebby talking to the owner and an employee and flashing his trustee badge, a metallic shield in a leather wallet-like holder, shortly after 11 a.m. Jan 4. During his introduction, his name is clear on the audio.

The owner, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, can be heard telling Sebby to contact the village with his concerns that the signs were illegally placed. Sebby then leaves.

About an hour later, another surveillance camera shows a dark-colored pickup truck and a man, fitting Sebby's vehicle and physical descriptions, return. The owner said he recognized Sebby but did not confront him out of fear of getting into trouble with Lombard officials. Lombard code enforcement officers drive white vehicles carrying the village logo, the words "Code Enforcement Officer" or nothing.

The man then removes several signs and walks to the edge of the camera's view. He is then seen on second camera uprooting more signs then walking to the edge of the camera's view with them, and when he turns around he no longer has the signs. The discarded signs were found within feet of where the man was last seen holding them.

"I'm amazed the state's attorney cannot find a law that has been broken. I am disturbed that this is setting a precedent for these kinds of activities -- intimidating business owners and using your official status to do so," Fitzpatrick said. "I deplore bullying tactics of any kind. As a school board member, of all people, Steve Sebby should understand bullying."

The business owner could not be reached for comment.

Lombard Village President William Mueller has said he plans to implement a new procedure in which trustee badges are mounted on plaques for souvenirs once they leave office.