What started as a late-night act of political vandalism in January has landed two Arlington Heights residents in court. Authorities say a local Republican office was hit with swastikas, profanity, and what appeared to be feces, and now a 72-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman are facing misdemeanor charges.
Police say surveillance video and follow-up investigation led them to Brock McNerney, 72, and Moisette McNerney, 69, both of Arlington Heights. Officers report the pair was taken into custody without incident after detectives matched them to the footage.
According to FOX 32 Chicago, both defendants were charged with criminal damage to property and criminal defacement of property, which are misdemeanors under Illinois law. The outlet reports they were released pending a court appearance and are expected to be arraigned at a later date.
The vandalism happened around 11 p.m. on Jan. 25 at the Republicans of Wheeling Township headquarters, 909 E. Rand Road in Arlington Heights. Video shows a man and a woman using a permanent marker to scrawl obscenities and draw swastikas on the front windows, then drop bags on the ground outside the entrance, as reported by the Daily Herald. Officers also reported finding an unknown liquid near the front door.
“This attack is profoundly hurtful,” Deputy GOP Committeeman John Saletta told the Daily Herald. He said members were shaken by the imagery and the apparent use of bodily waste and that the group had already installed cameras after a separate incident in December. Saletta urged anyone who recognizes the people in the footage to contact authorities.
Charges and next steps
Arlington Heights police say detectives identified the suspects by carefully reviewing the surveillance recording, then arrested the pair without incident, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Prosecutors will decide whether to pursue any additional counts, and a specific court date has not yet been made public.
Video, prior incident, and local reaction
The office installed cameras after a December incident that left messages about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk on the building. The newer footage appears to show the same pair defacing a portrait of Kirk, a conservative activist with ties to Arlington Heights, according to local reports. CWBChicago and other outlets published images and descriptions from the video that helped prompt a police alert.
Legal implications
While the current counts are misdemeanors, Illinois law treats criminal defacement and criminal damage to property on a sliding scale. Criminal defacement is a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense when the damage is limited, but it can become more serious if the damage or circumstances meet certain statutory thresholds. Criminal property damage can also be charged more harshly depending on the dollar amount of the loss, according to the Illinois General Assembly and statute summaries.
Potential penalties range from fines and community service to jail time for more serious violations, with outcomes ultimately determined by prosecutors and the court.
Arlington Heights police are asking anyone with information about the case to call the department at 847-368-5300 or submit a tip online. Local outlets first published the video stills and details that helped investigators identify the suspects, according to Patch. Authorities say they expect to release more information as the case moves through the Cook County court.
