An Experiment Gone Wrong In Elmhurst: Cops

ELMHURST, IL – If you ever wanted to test police response times, you may want to think again.

Mark Samano, 33, of Berwyn, attempted such an experiment earlier this month, Elmhurst police said. He was taken to the DuPage County Jail and charged with a felony.

Patch obtained the full police report through a public records request.

About 8 p.m. Nov. 9, Elmhurst officers responded to the fifth floor of the parking deck at 149 N. Addison Ave. for a report of a domestic disturbance.

Dispatchers were told that a man's girlfriend was kicking him out of his car and would not give his cat back, police said. Officers found Samano in a gray 2007 Toyota 4-Runner.

The officers asked Samano what they could help him with. He said he was doing an experiment, police said.

He then said he was in distress because his cat got away. Questioned further, Samano confirmed no girlfriend was involved and no disturbance had occurred, police said.

"I'm no longer in distress. This was just an experiment," Samano was quoted as saying.

When asked whether he was in distress earlier, Samano said he was not, adding, "I'm running my own experiment," according to the report.

Samano said officers responded faster than he thought they would, the report said.

He allowed police to search his car. No weapons or contraband were found, police said.

After he was arrested, Samano exercised his right to remain silent. He was charged with the felony of filing a false police report.

In 2018, Samano was charged with home invasion and domestic battery in Oak Park, according to online records.