Crime & Safety
Man Scaled Public Works Fence, Stole Truck, Crashed Through Gate: Cops
A 44-year-old St. Charles man now faces several charges for the Wednesday night incident.
ST. CHARLES, IL —A 44-year-old man faces charges connected to allegations he scaled the fence at the city's public works facility Wednesday night, stole a utility truck, crashed it through the security gate and then dumped it in downtown St. Charles.
On the same night, Joshua Ales, 44, is also accused of stealing a different vehicle from the 700 block of West Main Street, driving it to an unincorporated area in Kane County and then setting it on fire, according to St. Charles police.
He now faces several charges, including: aggravated possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, arson to personal property, criminal damage to government-supported property, criminal damage to government-supported property, burglary to motor vehicle, burglary to motor vehicle, criminal damage to property, obstructing justice, criminal trespass to state-supported land and leaving the scene of a crash.
Find out what's happening in St. Charlesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Police in St. Charles first began investigating the incidents after finding a damaged security gate at the St. Charles Public Works Facility, at 1405 S. 7th Ave. in St. Charles, at about 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday.
They then learned Ales had gotten into the public works facility by climbing over an exterior perimeter fence and entering the city-owned utility truck before driving through the security gate, according to a news release. The unoccupied city truck was later recovered in the downtown area of St. Charles.
Find out what's happening in St. Charlesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A short time later, officers were dispatched to the 700 block of West Main Street for a different motor vehicle theft, according to the news release. Police learned Ales was also responsible for that theft, according to authorities.
After stealing that vehicle, he drove to a rural area in Kane County where he set it on fire and then left the car, police said. When police responded to the incident, they found Ales nearby.
He was taken into custody and taken to the St. Charles Police Department.
This is a developing story. Check back for details.
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