Briefs: Students out after threat in Mount Prospect

About half of the students at Holmes Junior High in Mount Prospect stayed home from school Tuesday after parents were warned about a threatening message found on a girls bathroom wall late Monday. Students who did attend classes Tuesday had their bags searched by police on the way into the building, but school officials said the day otherwise proceeded without incident. School officials and police continue to probe who was responsible for the threat, which referenced a violent event happening at school Tuesday. Officials said they had no reason to believe the message was meant as anything more than a prank but, out of caution, notified parents through an electronic broadcast system Monday and gave them the option of keeping their children out of school with excused absences. School will be held as usual again today, with the extra security measures continuing.

Taxi driver arrested

A man driving a taxi was arrested Friday after his vehicle collided with a bus, Arlington Heights police said. Dineshchandra B. Patel, 36, of 1402 Robert Drive in Mount Prospect, was arrested around 12:45 a.m. and charged with illegal transportation of open alcohol, leaving the scene of an accident and DUI after he collided with a Coach USA bus on northbound Arlington Heights Road as the bus exited I-90, police said. Patel, who was driving an American Taxicab, sped away but was followed by a witness, police said. A Mount Prospect officer stopped Patel at Algonquin Road and Dempster Street, and the witness pulled up and reported the accident, reports said. Patel's Rolling Meadows court date was set for May 16.

Arrest made in purse theft

Nelly R. Seabolt, 25, of 1774 Oakton St., Apt. 201, in Des Plaines, was arrested around 11:55 p.m. Thursday and charged with battery and theft, Des Plaines police said. Police reports said she pulled a 29-year-old woman out of a car after the victim, Seabolt and three other women left a bar. Reports said the four women punched and kicked the victim in abdomen on the 1100 block of River Road and that Seabolt took the victim's purse containing $682. The victim was treated at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and released. Seabolt later was arrested, reports said. Seabolt's Skokie court date was set for May 8.

Wheeling food mart robbed

A man armed with a silver and black semi-automatic handgun robbed a 33-year-old female clerk of $800 around 4:50 p.m. Thursday at Express Food Mart, 830 Wheeling Road. According to police reports, when the clerk rang up a small purchase, the robber pushed his gun into her ribs, took the money and walked out of the store. The clerk saw him turn toward Hintz Road and disappear behind the store. He was described as being in his mid-20s and standing 6 feet 1 inch tall with thin build and wearing a black baseball cap, black jacket and blue jeans.

New District 15 president

Freshman board member Gerald Chapman was elected last week to a 1-year term as president of the Palatine Township Elementary District 15 board of education. Chapman was the longtime superintendent of Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211. He replaces Tim Millar, who was elected to the board in 2005 and has served as president for the past school year. Millar remains on the board. Kelly Keenan was made the new vice president, while June Becker retained her position as board of education secretary. All offices carry 1-year terms.