2 Naperville women arrested during smart meter installation

Two Naperville residents were arrested during the installation of electric smart meters by crews Wednesday, according to city officials.

City manager Doug Krieger said about 99 percent of the smart meters have already been installed in the city, but crews are working this week to install more.

“For installations where we’ve had some resistance in the past we are sending police officers to protect the safety of our city employees,” he said.

Naperville police Sgt. Louis Cammiso said the two women who were arrested were Jennifer Stahl, who was charged with breaking a city ordinance for interfering with an officer and preventing access to a customer’s premises, and Malia Bendis, who was charged with attempted eavesdropping and resisting a peace officer.

He said Stahl was released on bond and he believed Bendis was in the process of being released on bond.

Stahl is a board member of the Naperville Smart Meter Awareness group.

The group said in an email statement that the arrests demonstrate “the lengths to which the city officials have been willing to go to force residents into compliance.”

Krieger is hopeful there won’t be any more arrests related to the installation of the electric smart meters.

“Although today’s incidences are unfortunate, the city is simply exercising its right to replace its own equipment because these meters are city property,” he said.