Vandal Sets Trampoline on Fire in St. Charles

Among the police blotter items collected in neighboring St. Charles this week is the DUI arrest of a Geneva man and the unusual case of the burning trampoline. There's also a good reminder here that there very likely are people out there who are willing to break into your home to steal your laptop.

Vandal burns trampoline

A trampoline was set on fire sometime during the night on March 1, according to a . The trampoline belongs to a family who lives in the 3000 block of E. Francis Circle. An officer found that all of the items attached to what was once the trampoline had been burned. Police were unable to find physical evidence for what started the fire and have no witnesses. The cost to replace is the trampoline is $600.

Apple products stolen

An Apple laptop, iPod and Bose speaker dock were reported stolen from a home in the 0 to 100 block of Roosevelt Street on the morning of March 1. The owner said she had left to go work out and, when she returned, saw that the living room patio window had been smashed. The laptop is valued at $1,000, the iPod at $100 and the speaker dock at $250. A neighbor told police he saw a man two days earlier walking down the street and looking into the windows of parked cars. He is described as 6-foot-1, thin build, about 35 years old with long light brown hair and wearing blue jeans with a flannel shirt.

DUI for Jeep driver

Joseph J. Giustino, 36, of 731 N. 17th St., No. 10, St. Charles, was arrested for drunken driving on March 1, according to a police report. A Jeep traveling on Main Street without its headlights on was spotted by police. The car was stopped after police allegedly saw it cross the white dividing lines. An officer reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle and on Giustino’s breath. Tests for sobriety were conducted, after which the driver was arrested. During booking, Giustino submitted to a test for his blood-alcohol level. He is charged with two counts of driving under the influence and also was cited for two other traffic violations. 

Geneva man arrested for DUI

Mark L. Trainer, 48, of 0N448 Dooley Road, Geneva, was arrested on Feb. 29 for drunken driving, according to police. Trainer was arrested after police stopped his vehicle for speeding on Randall Road. An officer reportedly could smell alcohol during the traffic stop. Trainer submitted to tests for sobriety, after which he was arrested and charged. During booking, he also took a test for his blood-alcohol level. He faces two counts of driving under the influence and also was cited for two other traffic violations.

Patch reports on law enforcement activity in our town, using information provided by official agencies. Persons charged with a crime, or issued a citation for violation of a local ordinance, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If you or a family member is charged with a crime or cited for a violation, and the charge or citation are subsequently adjudicated, we encourage you to notify Nick Swedberg at St. Charles Patch and we will do follow-up reporting on the case. For questions, email nicks@patch.com.