Sunday, November 27, 2005
Tribune’s John Kass Dumps on McHenry County Law Enforcement Officials
Last Wednesday, the Chicago Tribune’s top columnist, John Kass, took another swipe at the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Offices.
Kass championed Mike Clarke, a part-time turkey farmer who lives in Northwestern McHenry County. Clarke was giving away turkeys to those who came to his defense when he was arrested for defending his and his “woman alone” neighbor’s homes.
Kass describes Clark’s crime:
He “got his job back…And the politicians in McHenry, the state’s attorney and the sheriff, covered their political flanks with the honor of a good family."
Kass adds, “Their name was shamed, and Mike and his son were put in the paper as criminals.” Kass must be talking about the Northwest Herald. The article about the March 25, 2004, incident does not seem to be the Herald's data public data base.
Kass championed Mike Clarke, a part-time turkey farmer who lives in Northwestern McHenry County. Clarke was giving away turkeys to those who came to his defense when he was arrested for defending his and his “woman alone” neighbor’s homes.
Kass describes Clark’s crime:
Defending their property and that of a neighbor, late at night, in the country, when an unidentified man in a hooded sweatshirt came wandering around the place, refusing to identify himself despite repeated pleas to do so that were heard by witnesses….Mike took his shotgun and had his son call the police. Mike unloaded the gun and gave it to his son. Then they grabbed the man. There was a struggle, punches were thrown, and the man in the hooded sweatshirt who had refused to identify himself turned out to be a neighbor...40 minutes (later) Mike yelled at the cops for showing up late…He and his son were indicted on felony mob action…(Clarke) was suspended from his (cable company) job without (months of ) pay….(State’s Attorney Gary Pack’s office) offered to drop the felony charges if Clarke and his son pleaded to misdemeanors. Mike had no recourse…
He “got his job back…And the politicians in McHenry, the state’s attorney and the sheriff, covered their political flanks with the honor of a good family."
Kass adds, “Their name was shamed, and Mike and his son were put in the paper as criminals.” Kass must be talking about the Northwest Herald. The article about the March 25, 2004, incident does not seem to be the Herald's data public data base.
