• SOURCE: Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office press release

No charges will be filed after a 31-year-old Carpentersville man died following an August traffic stop by Carpentersville police.

At about 5:30 p.m. Aug. 17, 2014, Joshua Paul was stopped in the 200 block of Spring Hill Road by Carpentersville police for a traffic offense. While police were trying to determine his identity and the status of his drivers’ license, Paul attempted to leave the scene. He was physically restrained and taken to the ground by the officers. Paul was placed in handcuffs, and paramedics were called to the scene because he was bleeding from his chin.

Paul was treated at the scene for the wound and then transported by ambulance to Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin. He was pronounced dead at 7:13 a.m. Aug. 18 at the hospital.

Following Paul’s death, an autopsy was performed by the Kane County Coroner’s Office to determine his cause of death. The autopsy determined that Paul died of hemoperitoneum due to traumatic laceration of portal vein in his liver that was compromised by cirrhosis due to chronic alcoholism.

The Illinois State Police conducted an investigation of the Carpentersville officers’ actions during the stop. In its review, the state police examined video taken from the patrol vehicles that stopped Paul, the autopsy and Paul’s medical history. They also interviewed witnesses and the officers involved.

The Illinois State’s Police tendered its investigation to the Kane County State’s Attorney on Nov. 17, 2014. The State’s Attorney’s Office then reviewed the investigation, the autopsy and Paul’s medical records to determine whether criminal charges should be filed.

Of the decision, Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said:

“I wish to express my condolences to Joshua Paul’s family. He was 31 years old, much too young to die. After reviewing the investigation of the Illinois State Police and the autopsy report, it is our conclusion that criminal charges are not warranted.”