Emergency 911 call reveals couple’s ordeal during Arlington Heights during armed home invasion, before standoff with SWAT on Chestnut Avenue (CBS Chicago). YouTube Tips ⓘ
For their heroism in rescuing two adult residents out of their home during an armed home invasion, five Arlington Heights police officers, a police sergeant, and a police commander will be awarded a Medal of Valor at an Arlington Heights Village Board Meeting Monday, March 16, 2026.
Police records available from Cook County Circuit Court provide additional details of a home invasion in the block of 800 North Chestnut Avenue in Arlington Heights on Thursday, February 19, 2026. While the records indicate that the defendant, Alex R Pacino, was identified on the victims’ Ring camera, the court records do not indicate that police obtained other neighborhood security video that captured the defendant on a bicycle prior to the home invasion. The court record also does not indicate that defendant’s bicycle was retrieved on Walnut Avenue, west of the crime scene.
The court records also do not indicate confirmation of early reports that the defendant targeted the female victim when he spotted her dropping of individuals at the Metra train station, 45 West Northwest Highway in Arlington Heights, and then rode his bicycle to follow her while she was returning to her home in her vehicle.
The court records also do not indicate whether the overhead garage door was left open while none of the victims were in the garage — namely the female victim who had just arrived home; or whether the female victim was still in the garage, going about here activities and moving from the car to the inside of the house.
The court records also do not indicate whether the female victim’s vehicle was parked on the driveway or inside the garage.
The court records also do not indicate whether the defendant displayed his weapon to the female victim at the home when he passed her (at an unknown specific location on her property).
Following is a summary report with minor clarifying edits of the Chestnut Avenue home invasion in Arlington Heights on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
The Arlington Heights Police Department responded to a residential burglary in progress in Arlington Heights, Illinois. A female victim (Victim 1) called 911 at 7:33 a.m. to report that an unknown white male, defendant, wearing all black, broke into her residence. The defendant, later identified as Alex Pacino, broke into her residence from the garage, and walked right past her and proceeded up the stairs to the master bedroom on the second floor. The female victim followed the defendant up the stairs and observed him stealing her jewelry. The female victim called 911 and went to the office where her husband (Victim 2) was located. The female victim entered the bedroom and the male victim locked the door. Both victims hid behind a bed. The female victim called 911 while both victims hid in the bedroom. Arlington Heights police officers responded to the scene, and an Arlington Heights police officer observed the defendant on the roof holding in the back of the residence, carrying a pillow case. The defendant was described as a male, white individual wearing all black clothing. The defendant ran back into the residence from a second-story window, according to the Arlington Heights Police Department.
Arlington Heights police officers made entry into the home from the front door. Police went up the stairs and announced their presence several times. Police ordered defendant to surrender.
Police officers heard one gunshot from the second floor, and then took cover outside of the residence.
Police officers observed defendant crawl inside the house from the second floor to the first floor while they were outside of the residence. Police officers made a tactical entry into the home and rescued the victims from the home from the second story.
Officers made numerous attempts to have defendant surrender, but they were unsuccessful.
Police officers set up a perimeter and contained defendant to the residence. The Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) Emergency Services Team (EST) tactical policers were requested and took over the scene. A police drone was used and entered the home. Defendant was seen pacing around in the basement holding a firearm.
Approximately 7 ½ hours later, the defendant, Alex R. Pacino, surrendered, and he was taken into custody at 2:46 p.m.
Found on defendant’s person was jewelry, belonging to the female victim, and a burglary tool. Evidence technicians recovered a Glock 43X 9 MM firearm from the basement, where the defendant was seen holding it. The spent shell casing was recovered from the master bedroom. There was damage to the wood floor outside the master bedroom, and damage to the ceiling across the hallway consistent with the firearm being fired towards the direction of officers.
Ring video captured the driveway and the front of the victim’s residence. The video showed defendant walking into the open garage at 7:29 a.m. The defendant was wearing black clothing, a black facial covering, a purple hat, and gray shoes.
The defendant, Alex Pacino, was advised of his rights at 5:35 p.m. Alex R. Pacino admitted to wanting to burglarize a home to get money, and admitted to firing the Glock firearm. Defendant admitted he did not possess a FOID/CCL and admitted he was a convicted felon. Defendant identified himself in photos from the ring video. The defendant identified a photo of the firearm that was recovered and admitted it was the firearm he fired.
Currently Alex R. Pacino (Alexander Pacino) is booked for Home Invasion, Discharge of a Firearm “NO BOND” February 21, 2026 and is detained pre-trial in Cook County Jail Division 6. According to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Division VI (Division 6) currently houses medium and minimum security classified individuals in custody located at 2834 West 31st Street in Chicago, within the Cook County Department of Corrections complex.
Alex Pacino was arrested Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 11:00 p.m. in an apartment parking lot at 910 West Euclid Avenue in Arlington Heights. The apartment lot is located north of the Arlington Heights Post Office and just west of Northwest Auto Wash near Euclid Avenue and Northwest Highway.
He was cited and released, but the Arlington Heights Police Department did not indicate the reason that Pacino was wanted for questioning or arrest.
The court date for Alex Pacino was scheduled for March 31, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. in Room 103 of the Cook County Circuit Court Rolling Meadows. Initially, it is unknown if his court date has been changed due to the additional home invasion charges.
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