Lake and McHenry County Scanner

15 establishments in Lake County cited for selling alcohol to minors

Posted: 03 Jul 2022 12:26 PM PDT

The Mundelein Police Department conducted 37 alcohol compliance checks in spring during a countywide initiative. | Photo: Woo-Sung Shim / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

15 establishments in Lake County were cited for selling alcohol to minors as a result of a countywide initiative in spring, officials said.

The Lake County Underage Drinking and Drug Prevention Task Force said in a statement that police departments in seven Lake County towns participated in alcohol compliance checks.

The task force was formed to combine the efforts of the Lake County Chiefs of Police Association and the Lake County After School Coalition.

The organization aims to prevent underage consumption of alcohol and drugs.

The task force said the end of a school year brings memories like prom and graduation, but concerns about underage drinking arise.

Throughout spring, law enforcement agencies and local groups had teens enter stores in the county and attempt to purchase alcohol with identification showing they were under 21.

Out of 80 compliance checks, 15 establishments allegedly sold alcohol to a person under 21, which is a Class A misdemeanor.

“This was part of a county-wide effort to continue promoting positive practices by stores and restaurants that sell alcohol,” the task force said.

The Grayslake-Hainesville, Kildeer, Lake Zurich, Mundelein, Riverwoods and Round Lake Heights police departments participated in the initiative.

The Mundelein Police Department conducted the most compliance checks at 37, followed by Lake Zurich at 16 and Kildeer at 10.

Eight establishments were cited by Mundelein police, two were cited each by Lake Zurich, Kildeer and Grayslake-Hainesville police, and one was cited by Riverwoods police.

No establishments were cited by the Round Lake Heights Police Department, which conducted six checks.

“Consistency from community to community and monitoring underage drinking issues will help us be successful in addressing this problem and saving lives,” Bill Gentes, executive director of the task force, said.

“Our desire is to see 100% compliance, but it is refreshing to see the majority of businesses realize the seriousness of this issue and did not sell alcohol to the underage participants,” he added.

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Owner of Papa G’s restaurant in Huntley pleads guilty to battering juvenile employee

Posted: 03 Jul 2022 10:34 AM PDT

File Photo – Papa G’s in Huntley | Photo: Google Street View

One of the owners of Papa G’s restaurant in Huntley, which was recently under federal investigation, has pleaded guilty to battering one of his juvenile employees.

Ricky Tsakalios, 36, of the 9000 block of Churchill Circle in Niles, was initially charged in June 2021 with two counts of battery, a Class A misdemeanor.

Charging documents alleged that Tsakalios knowingly caused harm to a 17-year-old juvenile by striking her left arm using an open hand on April 17, 2021.

Tsakalios also allegedly struck the juvenile on multiple areas, including her arms, legs and backside, using his hands and towels, according to court documents.

Prosecutors later filed two additional counts of battery against the man, alleging that he also struck the juvenile on April 8, 2021.

The Northwest Herald reported that the victim in the case was a hostess of Papa G’s restaurant in Huntley. The girl no longer works at the restaurant.

Tsakalios is a co-owner of the restaurant.

Court records show Tsakalios recently entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

He pleaded guilty to one count of battery making physical contact, a Class A misdemeanor, in exchange for his other charges being dismissed.

McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt on Monday approved the plea deal and sentenced Tsakalios to six months of supervision and an online anger management course.

Tsakalios will also be required to pay $939 in court fines and fees.

The conviction against Tsakalios is deferred, meaning if he completes his supervision satisfactorily the conviction will not be entered on his record.

The U.S. Department of Labor recently concluded an investigation into Ricky Tsakalios and Steve Tsakalios, the owners of Papa G’s,

The United States Department of Labor said in May that Papa G’s violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938.

The investigation reviewed the restaurant’s employment and pay practices, a civil complaint said.

Federal officials said the Tsakalios repeatedly failed to pay their employees one and a half times their regular wages for working more than 40 hours per week.

The owners also allegedly failed to maintain accurate records of their employees' work hours for the majority of the investigation period and even omitted some employees from time records, the complaint said.

The Tsakalios knew they were required to pay their employees at one and a half times their regular wages for hours worked overtime because they paid for overtime hours in cash at their regular rates separate from check payments for non-overtime hours worked, the labor department alleged.

The labor department also said the Tsakalios intimidated and retaliated against their employees during the investigation.

United States District Judge Philip Reinhard issued a preliminary injunction in June ordering the Tsakalios to not retaliate or discriminate against any current or former employee, including discussing communications any employee had with the U.S. Department of Labor.

Rinehard also ordered the owners to not withhold wages, terminate or threaten to terminate their employees if the Tsakalios believe they have been cooperating with the labor department.

The defendants must not communicate with their employees to investigate the plaintiff’s claims, prepare a defense, gather evidence or execute declarations without first informing the employee that their communication is voluntary and they cannot be retaliated against, the injunction said.

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90 days in jail, anger management for man who slammed down on officer’s foot in Woodstock

Posted: 03 Jul 2022 09:29 AM PDT

Thomas W. Gallo, 35, of McHenry

A McHenry man has been sentenced to 90 days in jail and anger management counseling after he slammed a door shut on an officer’s foot and allegedly battered the officer in Woodstock.

Thomas W. Gallo, 35, of the 4000 block of West Kane Avenue in McHenry, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery on a peace officer, a Class 2 felony.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Gallo shoved a Woodstock police officer backward with his forearm on August 1.

Gallo then intentionally slammed a door on the officer’s foot, a grand jury indictment said.

Court documents show the officer was attempting to investigate a domestic disturbance complaint at an apartment when the battery occurred.

Gallo entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office this week.

He pleaded guilty to one amended count of resisting a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor.

In exchange, prosecutors dismissed both of Gallo’s felony charges.

McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt approved the plea deal and sentenced Gallo to 90 days in the McHenry County Jail with day-for-day credit and 16 days of time served credit.

Gallo will serve 29 days in the jail and is scheduled to be released on July 28.

Wilbrandt ordered Gallo to undergo anger management counseling and two years of probation.

Gallo will also have to pay $1,764 in court fines and fees.

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2 motorcyclists seriously injured, 1 flown to hospital after crash in Algonquin

Posted: 03 Jul 2022 06:50 AM PDT

Police investigate a serious crash involving two motorcycles on Route 31 south of North Main Street in Algonquin Saturday afternoon. | Photo: Alex Vucha / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Police say the drivers of two motorcycles were ejected and seriously injured during a crash in Algonquin Saturday afternoon. One of the victims had to be flown to the hospital.

The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District and Algonquin Police Department responded around 4:06 p.m. Saturday to Route 31 south of North Main Street.

Algonquin Police Department Detective Sergeant Robert Salazar said officers received a call of a traffic collision involving motorcycles.

Police investigate a serious crash involving two motorcycles on Route 31 south of North Main Street in Algonquin Saturday afternoon. | Photo: Alex Vucha / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

A preliminary investigation showed that two motorcycles were traveling southbound on Route 31 south of North Main Street.

One of the motorcycles lost control, ejecting the operator. The second motorcycle then lost control, ejecting that operator as well, Salazar said.

No other vehicles appear to have been involved in the incident.

Both drivers were transported to a local hospital in serious condition.

Police investigate a serious crash involving two motorcycles on Route 31 south of North Main Street in Algonquin Saturday afternoon. | Photo: Alex Vucha / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

The first driver was later transferred to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge by a LifeNet helicopter.

The southbound lanes of Route 31 were closed for approximately four hours during the investigation.

The Kane County Crash Assistance Response Team is assisting the Algonquin Police Department with the investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is encouraged to call the Algonquin Police Department at 847-658-5431.

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