Aurora cop goes above and beyond
Aurora Police Officer Doug Rashkow, an 11-year veteran of the force, recently was named the department's January Employee of the Month.
The honor stems from his actions in December after being dispatched to investigate a disturbance on the near east side in which a woman had been battered and her prescription medication taken by her boyfriend.
Through the man's mother, Rashkow was able to track down the suspect, who had three children with him and had ingested several of the pills. The man was located within two minutes and persuaded to seek medical attention, police said.
After learning the grandmother of three children couldn't afford to buy them Christmas gifts, Rashkow bought them presents with his own money and landed a $250 check for their care from a veterans group. Rashkow delivered the presents while he was off duty.
"Officer Rashkow's actions demonstrate his unwavering commitment to justice and care for people he serves," Aurora Police Chief Greg Thomas said.
Lucky break: America is all about second chances, and an Elgin teen accused of beating and robbing a pizza delivery driver last October recently received one.
Tomichael L. Maye, 18, of the 300 block of South Belmont Street, was sentenced to 30 months of probation and 180 days in jail after pleading guilty to robbery, prosecutors said.
Maye, who was 17 at the time, and a 15-year-old Elgin boy, were charged with punching and kicking a pizza deliveryman on the 300 block of South Belmont and stealing a pizza, a GPS device and the man's wallet, police said,
During the robbery, one of the teens also pulled a knife, police said.
As part of this plea deal, Maye also is required to be in school or at work at least 20 hours a week. If he violates probation, he could be resentenced to up to seven years in prison. Prosecutors dismissed more severe charges of armed robbery and felony vehicular invasion, which carry a six- to 30-year prison term if convicted.
The 15-year-old's case is being handled by juvenile court.
Guilty plea in TV thefts: A 24-year-old Elgin woman, who is accused of stealing two flat-screen TVs from an East Dundee Walmart in March 2013, recently pleaded guilty to felony theft and was sentenced to 23 months probation.
Samantha Marinaro, of the 1300 block of Corley Court, was arrested last month after police located a file they had previously misplaced. Marinaro also spent 13 days in jail before she was released and must pay $1,587 in fines, court costs and restitution, records show.
She pleaded guilty in January to a May 2013 burglary at Menards in Elgin and received two years of probation. The probation for the March 2013 TV thefts runs at the same time, records show.
If she violates probation, she could be resentenced to prison.
• hhitzeman@dailyherald.com