What did he do that was illegal?

That surely doesn't sound like a very fun Christmas.

Koshka...I don't know...maybe crouching behind a vehicle with what appeared as a rifle could be construed as illegal or wrong. You do realize that seems a tad odd...right?

What did he do that was illegal? Odd doesn't equal illegal.

I don't think you can shoot a BB gun in a public park. Thank god someone saw the kid and called the cops. Illegal or not, something like this should be addressed and I am glad the neighbors reported it to the police.

My guess - kid is visiting relatives in Geneva. Kid gets Airsoft gun for Christmas and goes outside to play with it. In a more sane age, the police would've told him not to shoot it in the park and sent him home

It is what it is. Hope police overreact.

He was wearing camo and hiding. That alone is cause for suspicion.
How do you know he didn't pose any danger?
And they arrested him for disorderly conduct. So he broke the law.

While carrying what people thought was a rifle and hiding behind cars.
You wouldn't report that?
He must have been shooting it because they arrested him.
He was acting suspicous and he broke the law. The police did their job and arrested him.
Don't know why that upsets you. People get arrested everyday for far less offenses.

"As far as I know he was arrested for suspicious crouching while wearing camo"....
Right. I'm sure that's exactly what he's charged with.

Unless there is something else to the story, this is ridiculous. Warn the kid and send him home...lesson learned

Whatever happen to giving the kid a warning and taking him home to his parents. Do we really need to spend our limited tax dollars and resources to prosecute this? Also, why screw up the kids life because the kid got a BB gun for Christmas. What happen to the common sense of individual decisions rather than zero tolerance for everything!

Poor form by the Geneva Police Department. Laughing stock of all of Chicagoland.

Seriously ridiculous, let the kid play...these are TOYS!

Pam thinks dressing a certain and acting suspicious is illegal.

Ok. I have seen some guys in suits and ties working in banks who have been doing some really suspicious things who definitely should be arrested on that basis.

Right here Pam. Right here:

Pam
9:33 am on Wednesday, December 26, 2012
"As far as I know he was arrested for suspicious crouching while wearing camo"....
Right. I'm sure that's exactly what he's charged with."

Sorry, Koska---You might want to go back and re-read that.
I was quoting a statement from TV in the post right above me. Hence the quotes.
The "right" sentence is mine meant sarcastically toward TV's.
Do you understand now?

Pam jumped to the conclusion that the kids was shooting the thing.

Why else would they arrest him?

So. We are back to the beginning. Based on the information contained in the article I and others understand why the police were called and are glad they spoke with the kid from out of town.

However, and hang in with me Pam, based on the information in the article I do not understand what he did to be charged.

Pam is sure there is some good reason and some how seems to know what it is and asks those of us with questions to call the police.

I would prefer that the Geneva patch provide that information.

Pam. She knows all she needs to know.

They charged him with disorderly conduct which means they suspect him of breaking the law. Does there have to be a "good" reason to arrest someone for breaking the law?
And just who will decide that? You?
And if you are so concerned with why they arrested him, do call the police or send the editor of the Patch an e-mail asking them to clarify.

I only responded to you because you inaccurately attributed a quote to me.

Read a little more carefully next time and we shall never have the need to converse again.

Are you suggested the more logical reason for arresting this kid was they were "frustrated" with him rather then for him admitting he was shooting the gun?
I don't think that is a legal reason to arrest someone.

Monique Garcia @ Chicago Trib reported on this "incident" yesterday (Christmas Day) as well and it was mentioned on WGN news this morning. Yet, here we are all wondering what really happened and why was this person charged with Disorderly? Also, does this news article say anything about camo? I trust the editor of the Patch will be doing a follow up for all of his readers.

The Trib article reported he was wearing camo.

I fairly confident that other readers have encountered Pam before and understand why I am saying, " I am sure you are right Pam and I apologize for disagreeing. Am I free to go now."

Don't be twisting things.
You tried to call me out on something I did not say and I called you out on that, not for disagreeing.
Lets make that clear.

Good Lord.

TV@ I have never heard of a "frustration" arrest.
If the Geneva police did arrest him with no cause, the kid's lawyer will get the charges dismissed.

Wow...amazing discussion. TV is right. Suspicious behavior does not constitute a crime, but it does warrant an investigation. Once the situation was assessed, the kid should have been advised of the potential confusion and problems this could have caused, then wished Merry Chrstmas and sent home...not prosecuted...unless there is more to this story than our fearless reporter has communicated. But Nagel never makes mistakes...So Free the Geneva Christmas Pop Gun Bandit!!!

Unfortunately, in today's world ~ we need to be proactive. If I had seen this teen in camouflage clothing (crouched behind a vehicle) -- I would have been alarmed. I am surprised that no adult (or the teen for that matter) wouldn't have "expected" that maybe someone would be alarmed in seeing ANYONE who is dressed in "camo" clothing and carrying a gun. If he were out in the middle of the woods during shooting season, it would be acceptable.
Tell me ~ if I were to go out dressed in a black cloak with a rifle -- and I hid behind a tree, would you not find me to be suspicious???
Seriously.
Now whether or not the child should have been charged is not for me to judge. I don't know what took place, nor do I feel the right to judge the police. They have to make the best decisions based on what takes place at the scene. We don't know all the facts. Police are often criticized for their decisions, but I'm not sure that any of us would make the right decision every day, at every call. It is a very difficult job.
Personally, I'd rather have the police "err on the side of caution," rather than to readily dismiss "unusual" behavior.
I personally support and honor our police. I'm glad I don't walk in their shoes ........ I would be arrested (for arresting all the people) who beep at my lousy driving! LOL
P.S. And I didn't hit that mailbox...... = )

There are kids killed every year for carrying 'toy' guns that look so much like real ones that cops think they are about to get shot. Although this boy might not have realized that, he is lucky to be alive. And we are lucky to have careful police. Ok so after the police of two cities were called out and had to walk into some situation that they saw as being very dangerous - at least until the truth was known - the boy has to tell it to the judge. Perhaps it isn't the best outcome but it is by no means the worst either.