Opinion ID: 369136
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Evidence Relating to the Arrest of McKillip and Schremser

Text: 19 The defendant claims that the arrest of McKillip and Schremser in McHenry County is prejudicial evidence of other crimes. However, a close examination of the record questioned by the defendant reveals no statement about an arrest. 3 The evidence shows that at 11:30 p. m. in October 1974 Patrolman McKeating and his partner of the McHenry County Sheriff's office found a red semi-trailer International Transtar truck near the Friendly Equipment Company and subsequently found two men, McKillip and Schremser, near a Friendly Equipment building. Patrolman McKeating advised them that the business was closed. McKeating testified that later he found an open door on the north side of the building and observed the two men go up to several trucks and open them and go inside and come back outside again. 20 From this testimony the jury may have surmised that witnesses McKillip and Schremser were engaged in some illegal activity, but we cannot say that the district court judge abused his discretion in admitting the evidence. The International Transtar driven by McKillip and Schremser was previously stolen from Fox Valley Rental and Leasing. Within a few days after this incident in McHenry County, Schremser had the truck repainted blue at Knight's Body Shop in Lyons, Illinois. The repainting job was paid for by a T & J Trucking company check. From Knight's testimony, moreover, the jury may have reasonably inferred that Inendino arranged the repainting. The evidence was relevant and material to the charges in the indictment. 21