Prison for Elgin man who eluded police through state park
A 34-year-old Elgin man who escaped authorities temporarily in June 2012 after a chase through a 3,400-acre state park is headed to prison.
Eric M. Galarza, formerly of the 900 block of Elma Avenue, recently pleaded guilty to aggravated domestic battery and was sentenced to seven years in prison, according to Kane County court records.
That sentence will be served concurrently with an 11-year sentence Galarza received after pleading guilty to a 2013 charge of manufacture/delivery of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, park or church, records show.
Galarza led authorities on a 5-mile chase through the James "Pate" Philip State Park near Wayne and Bartlett, after his wife told police he struck her in the head several times, choked her and threatened to kill her.
He escaped law enforcement that day despite the use of police dogs, two helicopters and an airplane, but was arrested 11 months later during a drug sweep in Elgin.
Concert 15 years in making
The Elgin-based Administer Justice will host a 15th anniversary benefit concert June 25 featuring Plumb, a contemporary Christian rock artist.
Tickets are $20 for general admission or $50 for VIP seating for the show, which begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin.
Citizen Way opens for Plumb, whose real name is Tiffany Arbuckle Lee and has sold more than 500,000 albums and more than 2 million singles.
For more information or tickets, visit administerjustice.org.
Administer Justice provides free legal services for low-income people and families in Kane County and neighboring suburbs.
Village lands on safe list
The village of Campton Hills recently was named by Safewise, a website that compares home security options, as the 17th safest community in the United States.
The company analyzed and collected FBI crime stats and paired the data with its own research,
Campton Hills, with a population of 11,327, had no violent crimes and 4.15 property crimes per 1,000 people.
Hibbing, Minnesota, was named the safest town. With a population of 16,267, Hibbing registered .25 violent crimes and .37 property crimes per 1,000 people.
Other Illinois communities on the list were: Lindenhurst at 8, Lake in the Hills at 11, Charleston at 41, North Chicago at 79, LaGrange Park at 85, and Channahon at 97.
hhitzeman@dailyherald.com