Rolling Meadows police officers Kurt Herman and Jaime Rivera were honored on Tuesday night for their work in arresting an attempted burglary suspect, armed with a hammer, who was attempting to gain access to the Chase Bank at Euclid Avenue and Quentin Road. The suspect was also believed to be involved with another suspect in a home invasion about 6 miles away at an Arlington Heights home earlier the same day.
Rolling Meadows Police Officers Kurt Herman and Jaime Rivera were given an Award for Exceptional Duty at Tuesday’s city council meeting for their work to apprehend Andrew Palacios on Sunday, May 15, 2016.
Police said Palacios, 26, of Palatine Township, had attempted to break into an Arlington Heights home on South Scarsdale Court near Central Road and Dryden Avenue earlier that day, and then traveled to Euclid Avenue and Quentin Road in Palatine. Palacios broke a window with a hammer at Chase Bank, 825 West Euclid Avenue, to gain entrance to the bank, which was closed on Sunday.
A source, who asked to remain anonymous, reported that Chase Bank, which uses remote video security, was able to provide a description of two suspects to police. Alert dispatchers at Northwest Central Dispatch System 9-1-1 center were able to provide a possible connection with the earlier home invasion suspects in Arlington Heights and the burglary in progress at Chase Bank.
When police arrived at the Chase Bank, Palacios fled on foot. Herman and Rivera chased the man, according to Rolling Meadows Police Chief John Nowacki.
“They were able to catch him and arrest him without incident,” said Rolling Meadows Police Chief John Nowacki. “We’re proud of them for their hard work, their diligence and their persistence.”
Police Officer Kurt Herman has served in the Rolling Meadows Police Department for nine years. Police Officer Jaime Rivera has served the Rolling Meadows Police Department for 14 years, according to Nowacki.
Palacios was charged with one count of burglary and one count possession of burglary tools, both felonies.
A second suspect was able to get away, and possibly fled near Harper College or in a neighborhood near the Chase Bank. Witnesses reported police from multiple agencies searched the area for a considerable time period Sunday morning.
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