Most Wanted list new crime fighting tool for Kane County

Anyone with a computer can now help fight crime in Kane County.

Sheriff's officials have started an online 10 Most Wanted list as a tool for generating tips from the public on the whereabouts of the county's most sought fugitives. The feature at kanesheriff.com includes suspect photos, descriptions, aliases and last known addresses.

"Our hope is people will start coming to the Web site and looking at it as a resource," said Sgt. Craig Campbell, who maintains the list. "It's still relatively new."

Kane County launched the Most Wanted feature when Sheriff Pat Perez began upgrading his department's Web site last year, Lt. Pat Gengler said.

Fugitives are selected for inclusion through a variety of factors, including the nature of the crime and the urgency of making an arrest.

Kelley D. Levens of Galena, Ill., currently holds the top spot with charges of criminal sexual assault and violating sex offender registration. There are two men on the list wanted for murder.

"That doesn't mean we won't consider a person with multiple DUIs," Gengler said, noting that the likelihood of finding a suspect also factors into who is included. "If we need to find someone, we can put them up there."

So far, three fugitives from the Most Wanted list have been captured. Gengler said that while no tips from the list have directly led to arrests, tips have helped authorities confirm details about the possible whereabouts of several fugitives, including Calvin Meeks of Aurora. He was arrested in Georgia last month on kidnapping and home invasion charges.

"He knew we were looking for him but refused to turn himself in," Gengler said.

Another fugitive who made the list was picked up in Wisconsin recently on a domestic battery charge.

"He was surprised to find out he was on the Most Wanted page," Gengler said. "He did tell us that he was moving around a lot because he knew he had the warrant. This is a prime example of why we put the Most Wanted up there."

A similar feature has been in place at the McHenry County Sheriff's Web site for more than a year, said Sgt. Tony Penna, supervisor of the sheriff's Fugitive Apprehension Unit.

Both Penna and Campbell said they believe Most Wanted programs work partially because of the public's fascination with television shows like "America's Most Wanted."

In McHenry County, Penna said one man was arrested on aggravated domestic battery charges and unlawful restraint after tips through the Web site led police to Louisiana.

He said there's little to no cost associated with the Web feature and it's better than a "warrant just sitting there in a filing cabinet." The lists also are consulted by out-of-state authorities, he said.

"It's one tool that we can keep on using all the time with the assistance of the community," Penna said. "Most of the people we get, we get with the assistance of the community."

Tipsters in McHenry County can reach the fugitive apprehension unit at (815) 334-4704 or call Crime Stoppers at (800) 762-7867 to make a report related to a Most Wanted fugitive. In Kane County, call (630) 232-6840 or e-mail kcmostwanted@co.kane.il.us.