Elgin pit bull owner fined $3,000 after skipping court

A 31-year-old Elgin woman whose two pit bulls escaped from her yard last month and bit a boy at Festival Park before being shot by police failed to appear in court today to face charges she unlawfully let her dogs run loose.

As a result, Sonia Torres was fined the maximum amount $750 for each of four citations issued after the incident, for a total of $3,000. She could have been fined as little as $50 for each ticket had she appeared in court.

Under state law, Torres, of the 100 block of South Porter Street, now has 30 days to ask the judge to wipe out the fine and schedule a makeup court date.

"As of Tuesday, she has convictions entered against her, four of those for $750 (each)," Elgin City Prosecutor Stephen Tousey said.

Torres could not immediately be reached for comment.

Police shot her pit bulls about 4:45 p.m. May 28, in front of more than 100 people near a fountain on the north end of Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave., after one of them bit a 9-year-old boy's hand.

The dogs later were euthanized and Torres was issued tickets on each animal for dog at large and failure to get rabies inoculations. She has not been charged criminally.

Elgin Deputy Police Chief Cecil Smith said last week the department conducted an internal investigation and concluded the shootings were justified.

Smith said two officers, one of them a canine officer, initially tried provide the dogs with water to distract them and worked to secure nooses around their necks. The dogs grew aggressive, leading the officers to open fire, Smith said.