Police Seize Carnival Ride Boy Was Thrown From: Authorities

ANTIOCH, IL — The Antioch Police Department has seized a carnival ride amid an investigation into any "criminally reckless or negligent acts" that lead to a 10-year-old boy being thrown from the ride and seriously injured Sunday afternoon.

On Wednesday, the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) concluded its follow-up inspection of the Moby Dick ride, which is owned and has been operated by All Around Amusement of Lockport, authorities said. Ten-year-old Huntley was seriously injured, but expected to survive, after he was thrown 10 to 20 feet in the air from the ride while visiting the Taste of Antioch festival.

Based on information provided by inspectors from the IDOL, Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow and the Lake County State's Attorney's office applied for a search warrant Wednesday and "secured possession of the ride" as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, police said.

“Our detectives have been working along with inspectors from the Illinois Department of Labor to determine if any criminally reckless or negligent acts may have contributed to the accident,” said Guttschow. “The outcome of this week’s inspections of the ride necessitated us to immediately secure it as evidence as part of the criminal investigation.”

Authorities have not elaborated on why or what led to the need to take such swift actions, but they are asking anyone who may have witnessed unsafe actions by carnival workers or equipment during the Taste of Summer email Antioch Police Detectives at crime@antioch.il.gov.

• Boy, 10, Expected To Survive After Being Thrown From Carnival Ride

The IDOL inspections began Sunday afternoon in Antioch, hours after the incident, according to authorities.

On Monday, All Around Amusement moved the ride from Antioch to a storage facility in south suburban Shorewood, where the inspection process by IDOL continued. Following the most recent inspection, the Antioch Police Department obtained a search warrant from a Lake County judge, which allowed the Antioch Police detectives to seize the ride as evidence in the criminal investigation.

On Wednesday evening, the police department oversaw the ride’s transport from Shorewood back to Antioch.

Officials say the boy who was thrown from the ride sustained several injuries to his face, jaw and the bones in one leg, according to the Daily Herald. He underwent surgery and appears on track to recover from the incident, which happened at about 2:40 p.m. Sunday, when he fell from the Moby Dick ride.

Meanwhile, funds are being raised for the young boy and his family, and as of Tuesday afternoon, nearly $38,000 has been brought in through a GoFundMe set up by Huntley's uncle, Robert Pohlman.

Pohlman, who says the funds raised will help pay for Huntley's surgeries and medical care while his mom and dad are out of work, described his nephew as a "strong kid" who once broke his arm and pushed the bone back in on his own because "it didn't hurt."

"A truly remarkable kid," Robert wrote in the GoFundMe.

Emergency crews responded to the Taste of Antioch after the incident, and Huntley was initially airlifted to Advocate General Hospital in Park Ridge in critical condition. The boy remained hospitalized Monday and his condition has stabilized, ABC7 Chicago is reporting.

"He was flown through flight for life twice to two separate hospitals due to the care needed. My sister and his father will be out of work for a time that will make paying for the unknown amount of surgery my nephew will need, almost impossible," Robert Pohlman wrote on the GoFundMe page. "Anything helps, funds will be used to pay medical fees and if there's any left over, that will be saved for him when he recovers."

Antioch Mayor Scott Gartner ordered that the carnival at the Taste of Antioch and all the rides at the fest be shut down following the incident.

"The closure of the rides will ensure safety for our community and allow officials to review the safety of each ride," according to a Sunday statement from the village of Antioch.

The festival is sponsored by the Antioch Chamber of Commerce. The Antioch Chamber of Commerce is honoring all refunds of tickets and wristbands for Sunday. The musical entertainment and food options at the Taste of Antioch remained open until 7 p.m. Sunday.