BOLINGBROOK – Bolingbrook police have refused to release photos of the allegedly vandalized home of Mayor Roger Claar. 

Claar’s home allegedly was defaced with spray painted swastikas and anarchist symbols. 

The police department’s Freedom of Information Officer claimed an assistant state’s attorney asked for the photos to be kept under wraps.  In an email to The Herald-News, the FOIA officer said, “the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office has determined that due to the inflammatory nature of photographs, the disclosure of the photographs would inhibit their ability to prosecute the case, and would jeopardize the accused’s right to a fair trial.  After consultation, and at the request of the Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Chris Koch, the photographs are withheld.” 

Rachel Tuszynski, 30, was charged with spray painting swastika symbols on Claar’s home and writing a message for him to resign, damaging a speed limit sign and sidewalk, damaging a building in the 400 block of North Bolingbrook Road and stealing U.S. and Bolingbrook flags. 

Tuszynski also was charged with a hate crime for damaging property “by reason of the actual or perceived creed of” Claar, according to the criminal complaint. 

When asked about the hate crime charge and Claar’s “creed,” Will County State’s Attorney’s spokesman Charles B. Pelkie said the charge will “have to speak for itself,” and that it is not the office’s practice to elaborate beyond the charge. 

On Sept. 21, Tuszynski was arrested and booked into the Will County jail.  She appeared in court later that day, and her bond was set at $150,000. 

Tuszynski remains in custody.  A preliminary hearing for her case is scheduled for Oct. 13. 

The Herald-News filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Bolingbrook police Monday, and on Wednesday received partially redacted police reports on Tuszynki’s arrest, but the photos were withheld. 

Pelkie said the Bolingbrook Police Department made the decision to withhold the photos.  The state’s attorney’s office provided consultation, said Pelkie, who declined to go into specifics. 

“In general, our concern tends to be protecting the right of a defendant in any case to receive a fair trial,” Pelkie said. 

In an email, Bolingbrook Police Lt.  Anthony Columbus said the response to the request “stands on its own merits” and there will be “no further clarification at this time.” 

Claar did not to respond to voice mail messages left Wednesday. 

Claar was re-elected Bolingbrook mayor in April after facing off against Will County Board Member Jackie Traynere.  The mayoral race received national attention as Claar supports U.S. President Donald Trump and invited him to the Bolingbrook Golf Club in September 2016. 

Traynere said Trump’s visit to Bolingbrook was the catalyst for her bid to unseat Claar from a 31-year reign. 

Police were contacted about the damage to Claar’s home on Sept. 20 and an officer saw spray paint on the garage door, driveway, sidewalk, brick walkway and steps leading to a garage service door, according to the reports. 

Messages were left on Claar’s car, mailbox and flagpole, the reports said, and both U.S. and Bolingbrook flags were cut down from a flag pole and stolen. 

“All graffiti and notes that were left were political and racist in nature,” the police reports said. 

During the course of an investigation, the police allegedly saw Tuszynki riding in a Honda van that entered the parking lot of Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill.  Officers approached Tuszynski at the 431 W. Boughton Road bar while she was sitting with a friend, the reports said. 

According to the reports, the evidence collected for their case against Tuszynski includes disc recordings, tools, documents, clothes, a DVD of Snapchats from Tuszynki and other unspecified items.