Boat Owner Tossed Renter’s Phone In Lake In Front Of Cops: Sheriff

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The owner of a boat rental business near Antioch faces charges after police say she threw a customer's phone into the water during a disagreement regarding whether they could properly dock the boat.

Kristen Wooden, of the 41000 block of North Westlake Avenue in unincorporated Antioch, has been charged with criminal damage property in connection with the Saturday incident.

She called police at about 6 p.m. to request filing a report regarding one of her rental boats hitting the Route 12 railroad bridge. While deputies were responding to The Boatyard in the 42100 block of North 4th Avenue, Wooden called 911 again to report the renters of her boat were damaging it.

When marine deputies arrived, they found Wooden at the edge of her pier, arguing with the occupants of the boar, which had not yet docked, authorities said.

Wooden said she was worried the boat driver would not be able to pull the boat in, and deputies offered to give her a ride to the boat so she could drive it in herself, according to the news release.

Once she had docked the boat, police said she took a phone from one of the people on board — who had been recording the situation —and dropped it into the water. According to the news release, marine deputies saw her throw the phone into the water.

Deputies talked to the people who rented the boat, who did not show any indications that they'd been drinking. They said when they returned to The Boatyard, Wooden refused to let them dock until sheriff's office deputies arrived, according to the news release.

The renters said they were never given proper instructions on handling or maneuvering the boat, but Wooden claimed she briefed them on that, according to authorities. Deputies also determined Wooden did not provide them with a copy of the rental agreement, which is required, and that the boat did not have U.S. Coast Guard required equipment, including an emergency engine cut-off switch link.

Wooden was taken into custody for criminal damage to property for taking the cell phone and dropping it into the water and she was also cited for not providing required equipment on a rental boat.

Wooden has been released on a $1,500 recognizance bond is next expected in court on Aug. 23.

Authorities did take a crash report regarding claims the boat struck a bridge earlier in the day, and said The Boatyard claimed the vessel would need to be taken out of service due to its structural integrity being compromised. But police said the same boat was rented out the following day.

Police said Wooden also later claimed the renters of the boat left human waste, numerous liquor bottles, beer bottles and garbage on the boat, but none of that was observed by marine unit deputies while they were at the scene, according to the news release.

Police have not received any similar complaints regarding Wooden in the past, said deputy chief Christopher Covelli.

"Since she was not operating a vehicle, she was not tested or assessed for being under the influence," Covelli said. "It is unclear on why exactly she took the victim’s phone and threw it in the water. The victim was recording Wooden, and that may have upset Wooden."