6/26/24 Update: 4:48 p.m. 

After a thorough independent investigation by the MERIT Public Integrity Team, the DuPage County State’s Attorney announced today that he will not file criminal charges against Carol Stream Police officers who were involved in the officer-involved shooting on February 3, 2024 at the Villagebrook Apartments that resulted in Isaac Goodlow’s death. 

In his decision, State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said that he is not concluding that Officer Dan Pfingston was justified in his use of deadly force; rather, the State is unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Officer Pfingston committed a criminal act and was not legally justified when he shot Isaac Goodlow. 

Additionally, please take a moment to read the Village’s statement regarding today’s decision: 

Mr. Goodlow’s death is a tragedy that has caused a great amount of pain to his family and in our community. The Village acknowledges that pain and sympathizes with everyone affected by this incident.  

The Village thanks the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office for rendering its decision in a relatively short time frame. We know the investigative process can be painstakingly slow. We also know that when a family is suffering a tragic loss that the answers cannot come soon enough.    

As of May 2, probationary police officer Dan Pfingston is no longer employed by the Village.   

As is proper following major incidents, and consistent with the State’s Attorney’s recommendations, the Carol Stream Police Department has embarked on a thorough review of its policies and procedures. The Department is also participating in a thorough and robust accreditation process which is intended to ensure all policies, procedures, and practices align with modern policing strategies. Additionally, the Department has set up new training opportunities for officers that focus on communication, tactics, and decision-making. 

Finally, we acknowledge that the tragic incident on February 3 has affected our entire community and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that these wounds are healed over time. One way to do that is by working every day to strengthen the bonds between Carol Stream residents and the men and women tasked with keeping our community safe. 

State’s Attorney Berlin’s full statement about the case can be read here.

A memo from State’s Attorney Berlin to Carol Stream Police Chief Don Cummings that summarizes the investigation's findings and describes his legal reasoning for not bringing charges against the officers can be read in full here.   Please note that portions of the memo that identify witnesses have been redacted in accordance with the Illinois Public Records Act.  

The M.E.R.I.T. Public Integrity Team investigative summary report is available here. 

To listen to the 911 Call from February 3rd, 2024, please click here. 

5/24/24 Update: 2:15 p.m. 

Today, attorneys representing the Village of Carol Stream in the civil lawsuit brought on by the family of Isaac Goodlow, as they previously represented to the court, submitted discovery documents related to the police-involved shooting on February 3, 2024, at the Villagebrook Apartments in Carol Stream.

Among the information disclosed today are the names of officers who made entry into the apartment that night. Those officers are Dan Pfingston, Nick Janetis, Molly McGovern, Austin Marquardt, and Dan Koeller. A sergeant, Steve Cadle, was also among the officers who entered the apartment unit.

The Village, also as part of the discovery process, provided police reports for the domestic violence incident that brought officers to the Villagebrook Apartments that night. The recording of the 911 call prompting the police response was furnished to plaintiff’s attorneys on March 18, and has been available for public release from DuComm since March 15.

Due to its ongoing review of the incident, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office has advised the Village against discussing publicly the specific actions of each officer on the scene. The Village will abide by that request so that the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office can complete its review. The Carol Stream Police Department’s internal review is ongoing.

“We will continue to provide information that can be released without interfering with the review by the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office,” said Don Cummings, Chief of the Carol Stream Police Department.

 3/1/24 Update: 10:29 a.m. 

On February 3, 2024, Carol Stream Police Officers were involved in a tragic incident which resulted in the death of Mr. Isaac Goodlow. Today, with approval from the Public Integrity Team and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Carol Stream Police Department is releasing information which is intended to provide details, as we currently understand them, of the incident.

We share these videos as part of our commitment to transparency and our intention to give the public a fuller understanding of the events that unfolded that morning. All of the details we are releasing today have been reviewed and approved for public release by both the Public Integrity Team and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, as to ensure the integrity of the ongoing investigation remains intact.

As you view the video, please keep the following in mind:
The video footage that is being released today represents all of the body worn camera recordings that captured the complete interaction between Mr. Goodlow and Carol Stream police officers that day. The totality of the video, including the events that occurred before and after the shooting, will be released at a later date pursuant to the completion of the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office review. Once the investigation is completed by the Public Integrity Team, the State’s Attorney’s Office will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of all forensic evidence, witness accounts, and officer statements to make a determination regarding the actions of those involved.

Footage in the video that identifies individuals has been redacted in full compliance with the Illinois Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

The Carol Stream Police Department is devoted to respecting human life and will continue to listen to the concerns of our community during this trying time. As the family and loved ones of Mr. Goodlow navigate the tremendous grief that comes from the loss of a loved one, we offer them our most sincere condolences on their loss.

We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as this investigation progresses. The professional men and women of the Carol Stream Police Department are committed to the full independent investigation of this incident. We will be providing the results of the independent investigation to the public as soon we are able.

Body worn camera footage can be viewed here.

 2/9/24 Update: 6:42 p.m.

Earlier this morning, the family of Mr. Goodlow was given the opportunity to view portions of body worn camera footage that captured the events of February 3. The viewing was facilitated by the Public Integrity Team of the Metropolitan Emergency Response Investigations Taskforce (MERIT), the independent agency conducting the investigation.

We support that this opportunity was provided to Mr. Goodlow’s family because they are entitled to gain an understanding of what transpired that morning. The immediacy in which this was provided corresponds with the department’s desire to proceed in a transparent and informative manner.

Furthermore, the Carol Stream Police Department respects the public’s desire to gain a fuller understanding of the circumstances that led to the incident. We remain committed to sharing the most relevant video footage with the public as soon as possible. The video footage will be released after the Public Integrity Team and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office determine that release will not negatively impact the investigation. The footage will be released in compliance with the Illinois Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act.

Further information will be released once it is available on the Village and Police Department’s social media and website.

 2/5/24 Update: 8:46 p.m.

The officer-involved shooting that occurred on the morning of Saturday, February 3 remains under investigation by the Public Integrity Team of the DuPage Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigative Task Force and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office. The Carol Stream Police Department is cooperating fully with the investigating agencies to ensure transparency and that the integrity of the investigation remains intact.   

A variety of investigative tasks must be completed before certain information is made available to the public. However, once all of the relevant witnesses have been interviewed and disclosure of evidence will not impact the investigation, the Carol Stream Police Department will be able to make more information available, including body worn camera video. The family of Mr. Goodlow will first be given the opportunity to view the body worn camera footage before public release.  

Further information will be released once it is available on the Village and Police Department’s social media and website. 

2/3/24 Update: 6:29 p.m.

The family of the deceased individual has been notified, and the Carol Stream Police Department has been in contact with a representative of the family to extend their condolences. The DuPage County Coroner’s Office has identified the deceased individual as Isaac Goodlow III, a 30-year-old resident of the Chicagoland area. It is the responsibility of the Coroner to determine the cause and manner of death. 

The department has determined that two officers discharged their weapons in relation to this incident. In accordance with the Carol Stream Police Department’s policy, the involved officers have been placed on paid leave while M.E.R.I.T.’s Public Integrity Team conducts its investigation. Due to the complexity of the investigation, involving numerous agencies, this investigation will continue for an indeterminate amount of time.  The scene of the incident is being processed by M.E.R.I.T.’s Forensic Investigation Unit and will be released to property management. 

The Carol Stream Police Department is committed to having a thorough and transparent investigation completed by an independent party. All officers’ Body Worn Cameras were activated during this incident and will be reviewed as part of the independent investigation.  

Further information will be released once it is available on the Village and Police Department’s social media and website. 

 2/3/24 Update: 10:59 a.m.

At approximately 4:15 a.m., the Carol Stream Police Department responded to a reported domestic violence incident at the Village Brook Apartments at 260 E. St. Charles Road in Carol Stream. 

Officers encountered a tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving situation, which resulted in officers discharging their weapons at the alleged domestic violence suspect. The suspect was struck and sustained critical injuries. He was transported to Central DuPage Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. The deceased individual’s identity is being withheld pending notification of the family.  

No officers were injured in this incident.  There is no ongoing threat to the public at this time. 

The Public Integrity Team of the DuPage Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigative Team (MERIT) Task Force was deployed to investigate this incident. The Public Integrity Team, which is comprised of investigators from other DuPage County agencies and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, impartially investigates officer-involved shootings and deaths in DuPage County. 

The Carol Stream Police Department deploys its officers with Body Worn Cameras (BWCs). The BWC footage is being reviewed as part of this ongoing investigation. The footage will be released in coordination with the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office. 

The Carol Stream Police Department extends its condolences to the family and friends of the individual who lost his life this morning.  

Further information will be released once it is available on the Village and Police Department’s social media and website.