Man cited after urinating on Crystal Lake business' rug

Crystal Lake police have cited a 63-year-old roofing worker who was caught on camera urinating on a local business' rug and then asking whether the building had "any leaks."

Niles man Jim Costa was cited Thursday with disorderly conduct, an ordinance violation typically punishable by a $75-1,000 fine. Since the act wasn't a criminal offense, Costa was not arrested and does not face any criminal charges.

The situation unfolded at 12:36 p.m. Monday when Costa entered a business in the 600 block of Terra Cotta Avenue, Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Thomas Kotlowski said.

Video surveillance showed the man enter the building and call out "Hello?" in the empty lobby. The business wasn't open to customers at the time, although the door was unlocked, Kotlowski said.

After a few moments without a response, the man turned to face the front desk, with his back to the surveillance camera, and audibly urinated on a rug.

He appeared to notice the camera and make eye contact with it afterward.

A short time later, an employee came to greet him and he explained he was from a roofing company and asked whether the building had any leaks.

"The male [was] soliciting to do roofing work and he leaves her with a flyer and there’s a phone number on the flyer and it’s not legible," Kotlowski said.

After noticing a wet spot on the rug, the female employee reviewed the security footage and notified police, Kotlowski said. Because Costa's license plate was overexposed on camera, officers set out to contact the business and arrange a meet-up.

"We took the business name and the partial phone number and we started calling all the different combinations that it could be," Kotlowski said.

Eventually, police got through to the business, and without identifying themselves, set up a time to meet with an employee for a quote. Officers cited Costa when he arrived about 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the same vehicle shown on the business' surveillance video.

It was not immediately clear why Costa might have urinated at the business Monday.

"He provided no reasonable explanation on why he did that," Kotlowski said.

Police do not believe Costa visited other businesses but have asked that anyone who might have additional information contact the police department by phone at 815-356-3620 or through Crime Stoppers at 800-762-7867.