Two Crystal Lake Teens Arrested for Rural Barn Fires
McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said Joseph Gerdes and Andrew Wiegand, both of Crystal Lake, have been arrested and charged with arson.
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Two 17-year-old Crystal Lake boys have been arrested in connection with several fires in rural McHenry County.
Joseph Gerdes, 17, 868 Coventry, and Andrew Wiegand, 17, 1472 Bridgedale Rd., both of Crystal Lake, were arrested Friday, Aug. 10, according to a press release issued Monday by McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren.
Gerdes and Wiegand each were charged as an adult with arson, criminal damage to property and criminal trespass to property in regards to five fires.
Since May 29, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office has investigated six fires in rural Woodstock, Marengo and Harvard involving hay barns. In addition to the fires in McHenry County, there have been barn fires in Lakewood, and Kane and Boone Counties.
An anonymous tip from the public resulted in the identification of two suspects, the press release stated.
Following is a list of the fires the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office has linked to the Crystal Lake teens:
13900 Block of Harmony Rd., Marengo.
13900 Block of Pleasant Valley Rd., Woodstock.
11800 Block of Pleasant Valley, Rd., Lakewood.
22500 Block of River Rd., Marengo.
9800 Block of Lucas Rd., Crystal Lake.
Gerdes and Wiegand were interviewed on Friday, August 10, and allegedly admitted their involvement with the fires along with multiple criminal acts within the city of Crystal Lake, according to the press release.
The fires covered a span of over 60 days, and caused more than $1 million dollars in property damage, the sheriff said. The investigation is continuing and additional charges may be forthcoming.
Along with the Sheriff’s Office, the Crystal Lake Police Department, McHenry County Conservation Police, Huntley Police Department, Algonquin Police Department, Cary Police Department, Crystal Lake Fire, Woodstock Fire, Algonquin Fire, Marengo Fire, Huntley Fire, SEECOM, ATF, and the Illinois State Fire Marshall assisted in the investigation.
Jamiedog
7:37 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Lock 'em up and throw away the key I say. Even at age 17, the fact that they allegedly set MULTIPLE fires (and may have admitted to this), they fully comprehended what they were doing and it wasn't just "let's start one fire for fun". Really scary to think what they might have done later on if they hadn't been caught after "only" setting FIVE fires.... What in the hell is happening to our youth?
Anthony P.
10:27 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Crappy parents that don't know what old fashioned discipline is, or are unable to perform it because they are 'scared'. Now we have these kids running around with a sense of self entitlement and no manners, even worse arsonists and mass murderers. "Teach your children well"
Sram Aranoid
1:52 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
We, as Americans, have been significantly devaluing human life for more than a generation now. When we put ourselves at the center of the universe, only our own existence will have meaning and worth. How can we expect random shooting massacres, the wanton destruction of property and unchecked corporate greed to be viewed with more than mere cynicism when we are comfortable with our self-destructive social normality.
Sram Aranoid
1:52 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Abortion and euthanasia are seen as personal choices, marriage is ephemeral, causing our children to suffer, often being raised by quibbling and emotionally absent legal guardians. I agree, "old fashioned discipline" is lacking, but it is lacking in all of us. We used to live proudly with our constitutional rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, while not allowing misguided or antisocial individuals to undermine our social fabric. We did not turn a blind eye to people who disgraced our country and then cowered behind it's bill of rights when they were done. If something is wrong let us call it so, PUBLICLY! I am not crying out for Taliban reform, people should be encouraged to educate themselves, express themselves and enjoy themselves. If people build up this great nation of ours through self sacrifice and hard work, we should emulate them. If people continue to neglect the poor and the elderly and continue to fail to protect those who cannot defend themselves, we cultivate a society where we are gunned down in theaters and have our barns burned to the ground.
P W
9:16 am on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
To Sram...What?
These kids, if found guilty need to suffer the punishment.
Pensilclker
12:29 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
I smoke weed with them
Sram Aranoid
12:35 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
case and point...
Sram Aranoid
12:34 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
PW, I agree. These are ridiculous, needless criminal acts deserving of appropriate punitive consequences. Sorry if I made ANY inference to the contrary. I just can't help but see constant reminders of the inhumane way our society is trending. There seems to be no easy answers to questions of how to control crimes like these.