Bond set at $3 million for fugitive in Hanover Park standoff

A Michigan fugitive remained in DuPage County jail Thursday on $3 million bond after being accused of holding Hanover Park police at bay for 15 hours in an armed standoff.

Edward Zielinski, 33, of Galesburg, Mich., answered a few perfunctory questions but appeared otherwise unemotional during his first court appearance since the weekend melee.

DuPage Associate Judge Peter Ostling set a $2 million cash bond on the fugitive-from-justice charge. Zielinski also must post the required 10 percent of a $1 million bond for separate charges alleging unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated assault.

Authorities began hunting Zielinski after he was accused of choking his 18-year-old girlfriend until she was unconscious Oct. 22 in Emmett Township, near Battle Creek, in Michigan. Police said Zielinski was angry that the woman ended their short relationship after she found out he was a convicted sex offender.

"He left her for dead," Assistant DuPage State's Attorney Jeffrey Muntz said.

The woman survived. Calhoun County, Mich., prosecutors charged Zielinski with assault with intent to murder and home invasion, but his whereabouts were unknown.

Muntz said police closed in on Zielinski about 1:30 p.m. Saturday at a residence on the 1300 block of Bamberg Court in Hanover Park after tracing him there through cellular phone technology. He also had posted a comment on Facebook about visiting a friend in the Chicago suburbs, police said.

Muntz said Zielinski, who was taking a shower while armed, barricaded himself inside the bathroom and threatened to harm police officers and himself.

"He said, and I quote, 'If you come in here, it'll be the worst day of your life,'" Muntz said.

Police said Zielinski discharged the weapon up to three times into the apartment ceiling during negotiations. After a 15-hour standoff, police and the Northern Illinois Police Alarm Systems' Emergency Services Team stormed the apartment using loud, bright distraction devices known as "flash bangs," as well as tear gas and stun grenades.

No one was injured.

Police recovered the handgun where Zielinski told them he had hidden it, Muntz said.

Zielinski's criminal history includes a 2000 conviction for criminal sexual conduct in Michigan. Judge Ostling appointed a senior DuPage County public defender to represent Zielinski. It's unknown whether he will waive his extradition back to Michigan.

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