Man arrested on Thanksgiving did not know residents of home he entered, police say

A man who was charged with criminal trespass to a Crystal Lake home on Thanksgiving did not know the home’s residents, Crystal Lake police said Monday.

Robert Burrow, 20, of the 800 block of East Sixth Street, Sterling, was arrested about 10:30 p.m. Thursday by Marengo and Crystal Lake police following incidents in both communities.

About 10 p.m. Thursday, Crystal Lake police responded to the 100 block of South McHenry Avenue after a man allegedly entered a home through an unlocked door, Crystal Lake Deputy Chief Derek Hyrkas said. The homeowners were home and told police they did not know the person.

The man left the home after the residents said they would call police, Hyrkas said.

As a Crystal Lake officer was responding to the home, he saw a vehicle matching the description provided by the homeowners driving away from the house and tried to stop it.

The vehicle did not stop and Crystal Lake police alerted Marengo police to be on the lookout for the vehicle, a white Buick, according to a news release from Marengo police.

Marengo police spotted a Buick a short time later at the intersection of Route 176 and Route 23 after Burrow, who was driving, pulled up to speak to an officer about 10:25 p.m., police said. He then became uncooperative and attempted to flee from police, striking a Marengo officer with an open car door as he backed the car away from the officer, according to the release.

Police said Burrow then fled south on Route 23 and officers located him a short time later trying to enter another vehicle in the 7000 block of South Illinois Route 23. Burrow was taken into custody after police said he tried to resist the arrest by pulling back from the officers and using his feet to push against the squad car.

The officer who was struck by Burrow’s car door did not need medical attention, Marengo police Sgt. Andrew Kjellgren said.

Burrow was charged by Marengo police with aggravated battery to a police officer and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, both felonies, along with misdemeanor charges resisting a police officer and one count of attempting to flee.

The Crystal Lake police officer who respond to the home entry also responded to the scene in Marengo and charged Burrow with criminal trespass to a residence, a felony, and misdemeanor charges for criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct.

Burrow remained in custody at the McHenry County Jail on Monday morning on a $75,000 bond, which means he would need to post $7,500 bail in order to be released. He is due back in court Wednesday.

The McHenry County Public Defender’s Office, which is representing Burrow, could not be reached for comment Monday.