Dozens of dead cats found in van
An Elgin man was charged with animal cruelty after police removed 40-to 60 dead cats from a construction van, officials said.
William C. Tinkler, 60, was charged with misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, violations of owners duties, and violation of dead animal disposal act, police said.
The van was parked near Tinkler’s home in the 200 block of Villa Street.
The dead animals will be tested for cause of death and another five live cats were captured and taken away. They will be checked out by a veterinarian, said Animal Control Officer James Rog, who said he would return later to capture several other cats that were wandering inside and outside of the home.
Police were called to the home after city contractors cutting the home’s lawn discovered the van Tuesday, said police Lt. Dan O’Shea. The contractors could clearly see boxes in the van loaded with dead cats, O’Shea said.
Neighbors said the man allegedly had dozens of cats that roamed inside and outside the Italianate-style house, and that he blamed his neighbors when any of them disappeared.
“One cat ran away, and I don’t know how he even knew,” because of the number of cats they saw regularly, said Sabrina Patrick, who has lived across the driveway for the past six months.
Tinkler reportedly “knocked on my neighbor’s door, said he’d kill them, and she didn’t even have his cat,” Patrick said.
At least one cat was hit by a car in the street, she added.
“He acted like a psycho neighbor from hell,” she said.
The suspect was cooperating with police as they removed the animals, O’Shea said.
Elgin has sent contractors to mow the home’s lawn before, said Vince Cuchetto, code enforcement manager. Tuesday’s cutting was the second one this year. The mowing is ordered if a lawn is taller than 8 inches and the homeowner does not comply with previous requests to mow, he said. When the city comes in to mow a lawn, the cost is charged back to the homeowner.
The city has a history with the home’s owner, officials said.
On Monday, Elgin obtained a court order against the homeowner, identified as Penny Knuth, which allows the city to spend up to $4,000 to fix some of the historic home’s exterior code issues. Knuth would be responsible for repaying the city, according to the order signed by Kane County Judge Kathryn D. Karayannis.
Tinkler stayed at the home.
From the street, the front steps are noticeably deteriorating, and the roof has gaps in the wood, showing through to the attic space below.
This is the second time Elgin has taken Knuth to court over the repairs, Cuchetto said.
In 2009, however, Knuth said the property was being foreclosed, so the city dropped the case. That foreclosure was never finalized, he said.
In addition to the court order, the homeowner was notified she had 24 hours to clean up the home’s interior or it will be “red-tagged” and condemned, Cuchetto said. going to do and hopefully lives will be changed by that.”
As they stood hand in hand, students, teachers, staff and community members united for one cause — to spread their faith as part of the annual See You at the Pole event.
See You at the Pole was initiated in 1990 as a global day of student prayer. What began as a grass-roots movement with 10 students praying at their school has flourished. Twenty years later, millions pray on their campuses on the fourth Wednesday in September.
The event is a studentinitiated, student- organized and student-led prayer rally where students meet at the school flagpole before class.
At West High, Black- hawks of every color, creed and age rose early to be a part of the spiritual gathering.
Footballs were tucked under the arms of athletes who draped their arms around girls with pink hair and boys in sharp leather jackets. For Brenda Dominguez, who graduated from West High in 2005, the sight was spectacular.
When she attended class at West, there was no Bible study group. These days, Breakthrough Bible study meets once a week and allows students of all faiths to openly discuss their beliefs.
“Just because I didn’t have that (opportunity) doesn’t mean I can’t give it back to others,” Dominguez said.
She showed up with her husband, Paul, on Wednesday to take part in the event at the West flagpole.
“Three or four years ago, God came into my life, and he has shown his love,” she told a group of students. “I want to share that with you, even though I just met you right now.”
Dominguez said she came from a broken home and had a hard time during high school. She said faith has helped her along her rocky road.
“Continue walking with us,” she said in prayer. “Do not let go of us. We need you.”
As they prayed together, tears streamed down the faces of students inspired by the solidarity of the moment.
“Let this not just be one moment,” Dominguez said. “Let your spirit touch us everyday.”