South Elgin man charged following barricade standoff
A South Elgin removed from a home by a SWAT team Monday after barricading himself inside with a baby and two other people was arrested on firearm and unlawful restraint charges, police said.
Officers were called to a house in the first block of Ione Drive about 2:40 p.m. on a report of a “domestic incident in progress,” a South Elgin police report said. After being unable to contact the people inside, it was determined that Philip S. Shen, 31, was keeping the others from leaving, the report said.
Kane County SWAT officers, sheriff’s deputies and Elgin police officers came to the scene to assist South Elgin, and the SWAT team eventually went into the house, arrested Shen and freed the others, including the 3-month-old baby. No one was injured, police said.
In addition to felony unlawful restraint, Shen was also charged with one count each of interfering with reporting of domestic violence and possession of ammunition without a valid FOID card and six counts of possession of a firearm without a valid FOID card, all misdemeanors.
Two men charged in attack, gun fire at Clock Tower Plaza
More Top Picks Best Sushi Making Kits
One person was injured and two men arrested Saturday, Oct. 29, in connection with an apparently staged drug sale at Clock Tower Plaza at National Street and Grove Avenue in Elgin, police said.
The incident occurred about 1:20 p.m. when one of the suspects was meeting with an individual to discuss a drug transaction and the second suspect approached with a gun, which he used to strike the individual in the head, according to an Elgin Police Department Facebook post. A struggle over the weapon followed, with the gun being fired once.
Officers were able to locate all three people and recovered the gun, the report said. The injury caused by the gun was not life-threatening.
Steven L. Ward Jr., 23, of the 200 block of North Crystal Ave., Elgin, was charged with three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and one count each of unlawful use or possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, aggravate battery, reckless discharge of a firearm and mob action, all of which are felonies.
He was also charged with misdemeanor battery and criminal trespass to a vehicle.
Gabrell J. Spruill, 22, of the 9000 block of South Elizabeth Street, Chicago, was charged with aggravated battery, mob action violence, reckless discharge of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and battery. All but the last charge are felonies.
Ward is being held in the Kane County jail in lieu of $75,000 bail, authorities said. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 10.
Spruill was released on $25,000 bail. His next court date was not available.
Ward is on probation for an aggravated robbery with a firearm conviction. Elgin police arrested him in January 2019 for using a dating site to lure robbery victims, according to Kane County Circuit Clerk’s office. Ward pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 300 community service hours, court records show.