After Windows Smashed Outside Daycare, Parents Want Suspect Charged With Felony
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Several parents who have children in a daycare center in LaGrange Highlands have banded together to ask prosecutors to file more serious charges against the man who allegedly smashed several car windows in the parking lot this week, fearing his behavior will grow more violent.
Kirk Waishwell, 38, has been charged with 13 counts each of property damage, reckless conduct, and disorderly conduct, all misdemeanors, after allegedly using a hammer to break the windows of 13 vehicles outside the Kensington School, 1900 W. 58th Pl., on Monday.
Parents of children at Kensington and nearby Highlands Elementary School have said they're concerned his alleged misconduct could escalate.
The schools have been on lockdown three times this school year because of Waishwell's presence, although until Monday there had been no violent behavior.
Ashley Miller said parents are concerned about another potential incident involving Waishwell, and they don't want to wait for something worse to happen.
"Parents are scared," she said. "We are not a community that's going to sit idle, and allow violence to happen in our community. It's frightening, what we see in both our country and outside with school violence, and we're just not going to let it happen here."
Parents were asking the Cook County State's Attorney's office to file felony charges against Waishwell. They sent State's Attorney Anita Alvarez a letter stating they don't want their schools making international headlines because of violence.
"We are not going to sit back and let violence happen," she said. "This is a lovely bedroom community. Our kids feel safe, we as a community feel safe, and when we see violence like this happen, we're going to take action.
Authorities have imposed an order of protection banning Waishwell from any LaGrange Highlands Elementary District 106 property, but parents feel that isn't enough.