Former Lake Zurich fire chief pleads not guilty to domestic battery
Former Lake Zurich fire chief David Wheelock pleaded not guilty Wednesday to domestic battery accusations stemming from a dispute with his estranged wife that ended in his arrest this month.
Wheelock, 54, faces up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine should he be found guilty of the misdemeanor allegations.
Wheelock remains free from jail after posting the required 10 percent of his $25,000 bail.
He was arrested after an argument that started May 3 and resumed the next morning at a home he shares with the woman on the 21000 block of West Highland Drive, according to Lake County Sheriff's police.
Sheriff's police said Wheelock pushed his estranged wife into a wall and threatened her. Lake County state's attorney's officials said Wheelock previously stated he might have grabbed his estranged wife's arm as he was trying to get an iPad.
Defense attorney Christina Ivashchenko did not comment after Wednesday's arraignment. She previously said Wheelock denies all of the accusations.
Wheelock retired from the fire department May 8, after being placed on leave four days earlier.
“Thank you for having provided me the opportunity to serve the village of Lake Zurich,” Wheelock wrote in a retirement letter to Mayor Thomas Poynton that was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Village documents show Wheelock will receive $105,742 for unused sick and vacation time as a result of his retirement. He had a vacation balance of roughly 259 hours and 2,838 hours in unused sick time.
An email obtained through a an open-records request shows Wheelock contacted Village Manager Jason Slowinski and Human Resources Manager Douglas Gibson in the early afternoon of May 5, after his arrest. The email to the top administrators began with Wheelock stating he presumed Police Chief Steven Husak had informed the officials about his situation.
“I was in fact arrested on a class A misdemeanor charge based on an incident occurring at home on Monday morning,” Wheelock wrote. “Suffice to say that I do not agree with the charges and will fight them. I am inquiring if this will affect my work status at this time, and what you may require from me.”
In July 2014, Wheelock was lauded for reaching 35 years as a village department employee. He was a Lake Zurich High School student when he began as a fire department cadet, then was hired as a paramedic in 1979. He received a village proclamation calling him “a role model for the entire Lake Zurich-area community and an exemplary American citizen.”
Wheelock worked his way to deputy fire chief, where he remained for 20 years until he was sworn in for the top post in August 2011. He replaced Terry Mastandrea, who retired after 21 years as chief.
Wheelock is due back in court June 23. No trial date has been set.
Division Chief John Kelly was named acting fire chief and emergency management director after Wheelock's arrest.