Elgin cop targeted for retaliation, police say

Authorities arrested five young adults Wednesday night on allegations they harassed an Elgin police officer at his home after his actions earlier in the day led to charges against two of their acquaintances.

The incident Wednesday night on Elgin's near west side, police said, was retaliation for the officer serving as the complaining witness against two neighbors arrested on disorderly conduct charges.

Police said the five suspects appeared outside the officer's home about 9:45 p.m. and began shouting and pointing toward the residence.

One suspect, police said, picked up a pair of sticks and began striking the officer's off-duty car across the hood and driver's side door, causing damage.

The group, reports state, proceeded to walk onto the officer's front porch while continuing to yell profanities and point to his home.

Fearing for the safety of his family, police said, the officer confronted the suspects outside and ordered all of them to lie on the ground.

The suspects complied, police said, and were arrested a short time later when on-duty officers arrived at the home.

Arrested were Vanessa A. Bittinger, 20, of 113 Granada Road, Carpentersville; James R. Groscup, 21, of the same address; Douglas Henson, 19, of 934 St. Charles St., Elgin; Robert Peluso, 19, of 426 Bowes Court, Elgin; and Michael J. Schmidt, 22, of 1164 Cold Spring Road, Elgin.

Each are charged with two felony counts of intimidation of a witness, one count of criminal damage to property and one count of disorderly conduct, police said.

Kane County Judge Kevin T. Busch set bonds for the five at $1,000 each with Sept. 19 court dates at the Kane County Judicial Center.

Vanessa Bittinger was able to post bond by Thursday afternoon.

The others will be held in the Elgin lockup overnight then transferred to the Kane County jail Friday morning.