Holiday Hills fence torn down after police say it interfered in rescue after shooting (with video)

HOLIDAY HILLS — Despite cries of opposition, a long black fence separating a private community from 1313 W. Northeast Shore Drive – where two McHenry County sheriff's deputies were shot in October – is being torn down.

The fence, which police said interfered with their rescue of the officers and search operations, runs the length of Holiday Hills' Hyde Park Avenue, separating it from a parallel Hyde Park Avenue in LeVilla Vaupell Country Club.

Scott B. Peters, who is accused of shooting the officers as they were conducting a well-being check at his home Oct. 16, is being held on several charges, including attempted murder of a police officer. If convicted, he faces a possible prison term of 165 years to life.

He eluded police for about 16 hours after the Oct. 16 shooting. Peters eventually was captured about six miles from his home.

The 79-home country club is a separate community from the village of Holiday Hills, and has been separated, first by a chain-link fence that was later replaced by the black one, since its existence.

Residents of LeVilla Vaupell stood nearby Monday vocalizing strong opposition to the teardown as workers dismantled the fence piece by piece.

President of the homeowners association Leanne Stoddard said the fence "keeps LeVilla Vaupell a private community" and that "each resident pays an association fee to keep it private."

She also has previously said the barrier keeps the three resident-only beaches private and the neighborhood from being flooded by traffic.

Stoddard, along with a few other residents, complained there was no warning or discussion before work began Monday to take down the fence, which cost the homeowners association more than $30,000 to build.

Complaints were launched at both Nunda Township Highway Commissioner Mike Lesperance and Holiday Hills Village President Dan Drury, both who were at the site.

"I don't have the authority to take this down," Drury said to a resident accusing him of being the driving force behind the move.

He later told the Northwest Herald while he doesn't have official authority in the matter, he did write a letter about the fence after law enforcement officials described the issues it caused.

"During the shooting, it did present a problem," Drury said. "It did inhibit the search [for Peters]. When those two officers were shot, [the Island Lake Police officers] had to drag them over 150 yards to get them to safety."

There is an access point about halfway down the Holiday Hills' side of Hyde Park Avenue marked, "Fire Trucks Only."

He added his letter was a plea to Nunda Township to create more access between the two sides in case of emergency situations, not to take the entire fence down.

Lesperance declined to comment.

Stoddard said she and Drury were supposed to meet this week to discuss potentially moving the access point, but she was surprised Monday to find the fence was instead being taken down completely.

Stoddard said she had called the subdivision's attorney and efforts to reverse the fence's demise will continue.