Grandfather charged in Indiana girl’s fatal fall from cruise ship

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A grandfather who police say dropped his young niece from the 11th floor of a cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico in July has been accused of negligent homicide.

A judge on Monday ordered the arrest of Salvatore Anello after prosecutors submitted evidence and said the 2-year-old girl fell when he raised her up to an open window.

An attorney for the family has said Chloe Wiegand asked her grandfather to lift her up so she could bang on the glass in a children’s play area. He blamed the cruise ship company for leaving the window inexplicably open. The family is from Indiana and was aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas.

Anello is being held on $80,000 bond. AP

Boy, 15, shot on CTA bus after argument

A boy was shot while riding a CTA bus Monday in South Chicago.

About 8:45 p.m., the 15-year-old was involved in an argument with a male on a bus in the 8700 block of South Commercial Avenue, Chicago police said. As the male got off the bus through the rear door, he turned and unleashed gunfire, police said. The teen was hit in the abdomen, police said. His condition was stabilized at a hospital. Sun-Times Wire

Toddler hit, killed by vehicle in Lisle

A toddler was killed after being hit by a vehicle Sunday in west suburban Lisle.

About 3:35 p.m, the 23-month-old boy was in a private drive in the 2200 block of Christian Lane when he was hit by a vehicle driven by a 40-year-old woman, Lisle police said.

The boy was taken to Edward Hospital for treatment, and he died before he could be airlifted to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, police said.

No charges or citations have been issued, police said. Sun-Times Wire

Elmhurst College to remain closed after threatening graffiti found

Elmhurst College was closed Monday and will remain closed Tuesday as officials investigate threatening graffiti messages found on campus in the western suburb.

The latest graffiti was found around 1:30 p.m. Monday in the Dinkmeyer Residence Hall, 190 S. Prospect Ave. in Elmhurst, the college said in a statement.

It is unclear if it is connected to an earlier message, which was found Sunday on a women’s restroom stall at the A.C. Buehler Library, officials said.

Police believe the latest graffiti to be a “non-specific, non-credible threat,” officials said.

“Activities that threaten our campus community are completely unacceptable and are a violation of everything the college stands for,” Elmhurst College President Troy VanAken said in the statement.

The campus will not be on lockdown, and residence halls will remain open, officials said. Additional security measures have been arranged ahead of a possible reopening Wednesday.

“Student safety is our top priority, as is a complete and thorough investigation of these incidents,” VanAken said. Luke Wilusz

Break-in reported at vacant Near North Side high-rise

Police are investigating a burglary Monday at a vacant high-rise building on the Near North Side.

Officers responded to reports of the break-in at 12:44 a.m. at a vacant, 12-story building in the first block of East Superior Street, according to Chicago police. They arrived to find two broken windows.

The officers and a police dog conducted a search and found no one inside, police said. It was not clear if anything was taken. Sun-Times Wire

Probation for former school bus driver who let kids drive

VALPARAISO, Ind. — A former northwestern Indiana school bus driver who authorities say allowed children as young as 11 years old to drive a bus has been sentenced to probation.

The (Northwest Indiana) Times reports Joandrea McAtee, of Portage, was sentenced Monday to nearly two years of probation. McAtee pleaded guilty in September to felony neglect of a dependent in an agreement with prosecutors. The 28-year-old McAtee can petition to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor if she completes probation.

The Porter County sheriff ’s office has said McAtee allowed three students — ages 11, 13 and 17 — to drive the bus for a short distance in a rural area near Valparaiso in September 2018. AP