Man accused of stealing smoke detector from police station, having meth

A 28-year-old man who prosecutors say took a smoke detector from the Schaumburg Police Department vestibule is charged with tampering with a life safety system and possession of methamphetamine.

Kalen Sims, who also has a possession of a stolen motor vehicle case pending in Chicago, received a $20,000 recognizance bond on the new charges and a $5,000 bond for violating bail in his pending case, prosecutors said. He must post $500 to be released from custody.

Prosecutors say Sims appeared in the police station in the 1000 block of West Schaumburg Road at 5:31 a.m. Monday smoking from what appeared to be a glass pipe with a globe-shaped bottom.

Officers approached Sims and asked him to leave the vestibule to talk with them, said Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Nicole Murphy. Instead, he blew smoke into the officers' faces, Murphy said. When officers attempted to arrest him, he tensed up and smashed the glass pipe against a pillar, she said.

Officers recovered from Sims a plastic bag with a rocklike white powder, which tested positive for methamphetamine, Murphy said. Officers also found a smoke detector in Sims' suitcase and subsequently noticed a smoke detector missing from the ceiling, she said.

Assistant Cook County Public Defender Craig Rosenthal asked for recognizance bond, saying he didn't believe Sims posed a risk to the community.

Sims is scheduled to return to court Feb. 5.