Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

Former fire captain jailed again; accused of beating ex-wife's boyfriend

A former volunteer Golden Gardens fire captain convicted of a federal drug charge is back in the St. Clair County Jail and is accused of breaking into the home of his ex-wife and beating up her boyfriend.

Carlos M. Darough, 32, of 501 N. 49th St. in East St. Louis, has been charged by St. Clair County prosecutors with two felonies, aggravated battery and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.

Darough is accused of kicking in the door of his ex-wife's home in the 200 block of Princeton Drive near Belleville at 10 a.m. Saturday, according to St. Clair County Sheriff's Department Capt. Steve Johnson.

A woman in her 30s told St. Clair County deputy Adam Quirin she had been in the bedroom with her male friend, also in his 30s, when they heard the front door of the home get kicked in, according to the report. When the intruder reached her bedroom, she realized it was her ex-husband, Darough, and he began punching the man. The pair ran to the bathroom in an attempt to get away from Darough, according to the report, but he followed them and started beating on the male victim again, this time with a black semiautomatic pistol. The woman was able to escape from the home and call 911.

Darough fled in a dark gray Toyota Camry.

The injured man was taken to Memorial Hospital in Belleville, where he was treated for his injuries and released.

Darough was arrested Saturday night in a Fairview Heights home after police received a tip.

On Monday, prosecutors issued a search warrant for the Camry and officers found about a quarter-pound of marijuana in the car. They were unable to locate the firearm the victim said was used in the beating.

The marijuana has been sent to the crime lab for analysis, and charges are pending.

Darough was serving parole for a federal drug charge in 2005. Darough was arrested in 2005 following a three-month investigation by federal agents and the St. Clair County Sheriff's Drug Tactical Unit. He was the main target of the investigation and was charged with unlawful possession with the intent to deliver cannabis, unlawful possession of cannabis and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

His wife, Lanelle Darough, who was an administrative clerk at East St. Louis Senior High School at the time, was charged with the intent to deliver cannabis, unlawful possession of cannabis and attempting to obstruct justice. The drug charges against her were later dismissed.

St. Clair County Associate Judge Stephen Rice set Carlos Darough's bail at $75,000 and authorities have a federal detainer on him for violating the federal parole. He remains in custody in the St. Clair County Jail.