Man Accused Of Trying To Enter Occupied Palatine Apartments

PALATINE, IL — A Palatine man has been arrested and charged after police said several residents reported a man outside ground-floor apartment windows during late-night and early-morning hours.

Jonny E. Hernandez-Mendoza, 29, of Palatine, was arrested last Thursday following an investigation into attempted entries and suspicious activity at residences in the 1700 block of North Rose Avenue, according to the Palatine Police Department.

An investigation began after multiple residents reported suspicious incidents between June 5 and June 17. During those incidents, residents reported seeing a man outside ground-floor apartment windows.

The man is accused of manipulating window screens and attempting to open windows to gain access to occupied residences, police said. Property damage was reported in at least one incident, but no one got inside any residence.

As detectives investigated the reports, they identified Hernandez-Mendoza as a suspect and developed information about additional similar incidents within the apartment complex dating back to December 2024.

Hernandez-Mendoza is charged with five counts of attempted criminal trespass to residence, a Class A misdemeanor; one count of criminal damage to property, a Class A misdemeanor; and five counts of disorderly conduct, a Class C misdemeanor.

His next scheduled court appearance is Aug. 3 at the Third Municipal District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows.

Anyone who may have experienced a similar incident or has information relevant to the investigation is asked to contact the Palatine Police Department’s Investigations Bureau at 847-359-9000.