State police finish investigation into Carpentersville death

A three-month investigation into the death of a 31-year-old Carpentersville man who scuffled with police shortly before he died has been completed by the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force.

The report has been submitted to the Kane County State's Attorney who will ultimately determine if criminal charges are warranted, said state police spokeswoman Monique Bond.

Monday, Kane County Coroner Rob Russell released his findings, which concluded Joshua Paul died Aug. 18 of a lacerated portal vein in his liver, which was complicated by cirrhosis due to chronic alcoholism.

Paul was driving away from a liquor store Aug. 17 when he was pulled over by Carpentersville police who had run the license plate of Paul's car and discovered the owner was wanted on an outstanding warrant. As two officers attempted to arrest Paul, he tried to flee, but was apprehended by the officers and "taken to the ground," according to Russell's report.

Paul sustained a cut to his chin and an ambulance transported him to Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin. His conditioned worsened in the emergency room and doctors told Paul's mother and fiance, Jeff Bolek, that his prognosis was "grim," according to the coroner's report.

Paul's blood alcohol content was listed at .356 percent, nearly 4½ times the legal limit to drive.

Russell said he viewed the video of Paul's arrest and reported that neither of the officers involved used excessive force in apprehending Paul.

The Daily Herald attempted to obtain the arrest report from Carpentersville police and video of Paul's arrest as well. The village refused to release the information, but Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office ruled a month ago that the documents were public records and should be released. The village has continued to defy the ruling, in violation of state law, Madigan's office said.

Carpentersville spokesman Dave Bayless said the village intended to turn over the records once the state police investigation concluded, but backtracked Wednesday.

"The village is eager to provide the information and continues to stand by its commitment to do so," Bayless wrote when asked about the documents and video. "However, it has been asked by Kane County (state's attorney's office) to hold off on providing the info until it deems this done."

A spokesman for Kane County State's Attorney Joseph McMahon said the office does not comment on "pending inquiries."

A public records request to the state police for the same arrest reports and video was also denied. An appeal to Madigan's Public Access Counselor is pending, despite the earlier ruling that the documents and video should be released.