BLOOMINGDALE, Ill. — A former Bensenville police officer and security officer at Fenton High School has been charged with multiple serious offenses, including home invasion and animal cruelty. Carmen Mirandola, aged 40, was apprehended after allegedly breaking into a home in Bloomingdale on November 8.
School Security Officer Home Invasion and Arrest Incident Details
According to police reports, the incident occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m. when officers responded to a burglary in progress. Mirandola is alleged to have entered the home through a bedroom window, where two children, aged 10 and 11, were sleeping, reports WGNTV. The children’s father, alerted by the noise, swiftly removed his children from the room and contacted the authorities.
Related Article: 8 in 10 Campus Public Safety Departments Don’t Have Enough Officers, New Survey Reveals
Upon arrival, officers discovered Mirandola hiding in a closet in the children’s room. He reportedly resisted arrest, prompting police to deploy a K-9 unit to subdue him. During the altercation, Mirandola is accused of assaulting both an officer and the police dog.
Following his arrest, the suspect claimed to feel unwell, leading officers to transport him to a local hospital. Medical tests revealed the presence of cocaine and amphetamines in his system, and he suffered a cardiac episode that necessitated a medically induced coma.
A subsequent search of Mirandola’s residence, located only a short distance from the targeted home, uncovered an emaciated dog, various weapons, and illegal drugs. Police also discovered cocaine in his vehicle, along with fireworks, ammunition, a ballistic plate, and police badges.
Court documents reveal that Mirandola had been awake for three consecutive days and had called in sick to his job at Fenton High School for two of them. Despite a lack of criminal history, records indicate previous police interactions in 2021 and 2023, including an incident where he allegedly barricaded himself in his home, fearing he was being followed.
Employment and Legal Consequences or School Security Officer
In light of these developments, the Fenton High School District 100 school board terminated Mirandola’s employment as of Wednesday night, following a “law enforcement incident” on November 8, reports the Daily Herald.
Related Article: How to Recruit Campus Police and Security Officers
Hired on September 2 as a probationary Fenton employee, Mirandola had undergone a criminal background check prior to his employment at the school.
Mirandola served as a Bensenville police officer for a decade until November 2023.
