South Elgin student charged with pulling fire alarm

A school address from South Elgin High School Principal Melanie Meidel detailing the consequences of bogus fire alarms Wednesday inspired a student to pull one - a mere 10 minutes after the principal's announcement, police said.

Roberto Lara, 17, of the 9N500 block of Hobart Drive in Elgin, was arrested at the school the same day and charged with felony disorderly conduct.

Kane County Judge John Noverini on Thursday released the teenager on his signature and into his mother's custody.

According to a court report, Meidel on Wednesday morning discussed the ramifications that accompany false fire alarms.

South Elgin Police Sgt. Mike Doty said the school has had repeated problems with this issue; school officials have reported two incidents in the past three weeks.

Police are not linking Lara to those alarms, Doty said. Ten minutes after Meidel's 9:30 a.m. speech, Lara sounded a school fire alarm, the report said.

A witness led police to Lara, who confessed to police he pulled the alarm "after partially hearing the message about heroes and the fire alarm," the report said.

Police hope Lara's arrest sends a strong message to his fellow students.

"It's not a joke," Doty said. "It really can't be because of the distraction it places on the school, the students as well as the hindrance to both the police and fire department."

Lara is due in court 9 a.m. April 14 at the Kane County Judicial Center.

If convicted on the felony charge, he faces up to three years in prison.

School officials were not available to comment on whether Lara would face any disciplinary action at school.