Teens face misdemeanors in ISU cop fight

The three Northwest suburban teens charged with battering a police officer last month at Illinois State University appeared Friday for the first time before a judge.

Charles Kiel, 19, of Richmond Court in Schaumburg; Austin Reyes, 18, of Manor Circle in Schaumburg; and Nicholas Pahl, 18, of Fairway Court in Hoffman Estates were ordered to appear in court again April 1, according to the McClean County clerk's office.

They were arrested shortly after midnight Jan. 26 on the 700 block of Franklin Avenue on Illinois State University's campus in Normal.

Normal police Lt. Mark Kotte said Friday the plain-clothed police officer in the incident was not badly hurt.

Authorities have said the officer involved had tried to break up a fight involving eight to 10 males. After the brawl, police said the three teens ran from the scene. The officer ran after them and flashed his badge while identifying himself as an officer, police said. When he caught up to them, that's when the battering occurred, police said.

Kotte said another officer used a Taser to break up the scuffle.

Kiel, Reyes and Pahl are charged with misdemeanor aggravated battery, resisting an officer and consumption of alcohol by a minor, police said, while Kiel was also charged with possession of cannabis.

Police could not confirm whether the three teens attend ISU. A directory on the university's Web site does have a listing for a freshman named Nicholas Pahl but nothing on Kiel or Reyes.