Trash Can Fire Leads to Arrests in BB Pellet Attacks

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — Two men got burned — figuratively speaking — by a trash can fire that led to their arrests in connection with a series of BB pellet attacks that caused more than $10,000 in damages to mutiple vehicles and property throughout the village over the past few months, according to the Daily Herald.

Stephen Hlavacek, 20, of the 1300 block of Marcey Lane, Wheeling; and Luis Landa Gutierrez, 18, of the 600 block of Piper Lane, Prospect Heights, were arrested Wednesday and charged with felony criminal damage to property, the report stated. Hlavacek also was charged with arson, and he and Gutierrez were scheduled for a bond hearing Friday, the report added.

Since October, Arlington Heights police received 41 complaints of car and residential windows being shot out and other vandalism caused by BB pellets. Police estimate the damage to be around $11,000, the Herald reports.

RELATED: BB Pellet Attacks Damage Multiple Targets Around Arlington Heights

According to police, a trash can fire Nov. 20 in the 2300 block of North Kennicott Avenue helped break the case, the report stated. An investigation of the fire uncovered a video from a security camera that showed Hlavacek's car at the scene, the report added.

That footage allowed police to connect Hlavacek and Gutierrez to the pellet attacks, the report stated. During the arrest, officers discovered eight pellet and BB guns owned by the men, the report added.

More via the Daily Herald

photo via Shutterstock

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