Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Motorcyclist suffers life-threatening injuries after crash involving ambulance in Waukegan

Posted: 16 May 2022 02:58 PM PDT

The Waukegan Police Department investigates a serious crash involving a motorcycle and ambulance at Lake Street and Genesee Street in Waukegan on Monday. | Photo Submitted to Lake and McHenry County Scanner

A motorcyclist sustained life-threatening injuries after a crash involving an ambulance that was transporting a patient to the hospital in Waukegan, fire officials said.

Waukegan Fire Marshal Todd Zupec said the incident happened around 2:50 p.m. Monday at Lake Street and Genesee Street in Waukegan.

A Waukegan Fire Department ambulance was transporting a patient from a call in the 200 block of South Martin Luther King Jr Drive, Zupec said.

The ambulance was en route to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan when it collided with a motorcycle at Lake Street and Genesee Street.

Additional ambulances were immediately requested to the scene.

The Waukegan Police Department investigates a serious crash involving a motorcycle and ambulance at Lake Street and Genesee Street in Waukegan on Monday. | Photo Submitted to Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Zupec said that patient care was initiated on the motorcycle driver by an ambulance crew member.

The patient in the involved ambulance was transported by another ambulance to Vista Medical Center East. The patient’s condition is stable.

The male motorcycle driver was transported by ambulance to Vista Medical Center East with life-threatening injuries.

Zupec said the ambulance crew consisted of two Waukegan firefighter-paramedics with three years and nine years of experience with the Waukegan Fire Department.

The crash is being investigated by the Waukegan Police Department.

Coroner releases identity of 14-year-old boy shot, killed in shootout at gas station in North Chicago

Posted: 16 May 2022 01:32 PM PDT

Police investigate a homicide that occurred at the Citgo gas station at 10th Street and Jackson Street in North Chicago Sunday evening. | Photo: Willie Gillespie (@wgweather)

The coroner’s office has identified a 14-year-old boy who died after he was shot multiple times while exchanging gunfire with another person at a gas station in North Chicago Sunday.

An autopsy performed Monday showed that Lavon'ta Brown, 14, of North Chicago, died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds, according to Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton.

The North Chicago Fire Department and North Chicago Police Department responded around 5:15 p.m. Sunday to the area of the 1000 block of Jackson Street in North Chicago for a report of shots fired.

North Chicago police officers arrived and located Brown, who was critically injured, according to Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokeswoman Heather Cognac.

Police investigate a homicide that occurred at the Citgo gas station at 10th Street and Jackson Street in North Chicago Sunday evening. | Photo: Willie Gillespie (@wgweather)

The boy was transported to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving, Newton said.

A preliminary investigation shows Brown was at the Citgo station on Jackson Street and 10th Street when he engaged with several occupants of a vehicle in the Citgo parking lot.

An occupant of the vehicle and the juvenile victim exchanged gunfire and the vehicle fled the area, Cognac said.

Waukegan police officers located the suspect vehicle nearby.

Police investigate a homicide that occurred at the Citgo gas station at 10th Street and Jackson Street in North Chicago Sunday evening. | Photo: Willie Gillespie (@wgweather)

A short time later, the vehicle crashed in the parking lot of the Home Depot on Belvidere Road in Waukegan.

The vehicle’s occupants fled from officers and three suspects were taken into custody inside the business, Cognac said.

Due to the seriousness of the incident, the North Chicago Police Department requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.

North Chicago police detectives and Major Crime Task Force investigators are actively investigating the homicide.

Anyone with information should contact the North Chicago Police Department or leave an anonymous tip with Lake County Crime Stoppers at 847-662-2222 or by visiting www.lakecountycrimestoppers.com.

Judge reverses conviction, orders new trial after previously finding Woodstock man guilty of sexually assaulting child

Posted: 16 May 2022 11:02 AM PDT

Nathan H. Rigg, 35, of Woodstock

A judge has ordered a new trial and thrown out the conviction against a Woodstock man after previously finding him guilty of sexually assaulting a child in Woodstock.

Nathan H. Rigg, 35, of the 200 block of North Tryon Street in Woodstock, was indicted in April 2021 on charges of three counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, a Class X felony, and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child, a Class 2 felony.

Court documents alleged that Rigg sexually abused a family member, who was under the age of 13, on at least three occasions in 2019.

Rigg was arrested in March 2020 on a warrant and was released from the McHenry County Jail after posting 10% of a $50,000 bond.

A bench trial in front of McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge took place on February 10.

Coppedge found Rigg guilty on February 18 on two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, a Class X felony.

Rigg was found not guilty of one count of predatory criminal sexual assault and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child.

Following the trial, Rigg’s bond was revoked and deputies took him into custody.

An attorney for Rigg filed a motion for reconsideration of guilt and new trial.

The motion stated that numerous errors were committed during Rigg’s trial, including by the judge and by Rigg’s former attorney.

On Thursday, which is when the man was supposed to be sentenced, Coppedge granted the motion. Coppedge found that Rigg’s trial counsel was ineffective.

Coppedge ordered for a new trial and reversed Rigg’s trial conviction.

Rigg was released from the McHenry County Jail after the ruling. A status on trial date hearing is scheduled for July 7.

A jury trial has been tentatively set for August 15, court records show.

Man burglarizes landscaping business, struggles and injures officer who tried to arrest him in Fox Lake

Posted: 16 May 2022 08:31 AM PDT

Thomas R. Brunner, 39, transient.

A man who burglarized a landscaping business in Fox Lake threw a stolen lunchbox at a police officer and struggled with the officer who tried arresting him, leaving the officer injured, prosecutors said.

Thomas R. Brunner, 39, a transient with no known address, was charged with aggravated battery of a peace officer, burglary, resisting a peace officer, attempted theft and criminal trespass to building.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Caitlin Valiulis said during a bond hearing last Tuesday that officers with the Fox Lake Police Department were dispatched to a burglary in progress on May 8 at Unique Landscaping Services in the 100 block of Sayton Road in Fox Lake.

The business owner received notification from his security camera system and observed a man, later identified as Brunner, going through one of his work trucks as well as his business.

The video showed Brunner go into the business and look around for approximately 30 seconds before throwing his hands up in the air and leaving, Valiulis said.

Brunner proceeded to go to several work trucks parked outside and attempted to go through them. He was able to get into one of them, which was unlocked.

Brunner could be seen on video sitting on the driver’s side of the vehicle with the door closed.

He took a lunch container from the truck and some spare change, Valiulis said.

The first officer to arrive at the scene observed Brunner on the victim’s property getting out of the truck.

Valiulis said the officer told Brunner to stop and put his hands up but Brunner threw the stolen lunch container at the officer, striking him in the arm.

Brunner attempted to run away and the officer grabbed him and a struggle ensued as the officer tried to arrest him.

The struggle caused the officer to fall to the ground. The officer sustained abrasions to his hands and swelling to a finger and was transported for medical treatment, Valiulis said.

Brunner told officers he had consumed heroin and paramedics had to give him Narcan to resuscitate him, Valiulis added.

Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Brunner held in the Lake County Jail on a $200,000 umbrella bond covering multiple active cases against the man.

Brunner is scheduled to appear in court again on June 7.

14-year-old boy fatally shot during exchange of gunfire at gas station in North Chicago

Posted: 15 May 2022 07:29 PM PDT

Police investigate a homicide that occurred at the Citgo gas station at 10th Street and Jackson Street in North Chicago Sunday evening. | Photo: Willie Gillespie (@wgweather)

A 14-year-old boy died after he was shot while exchanging gunfire with a gunman in a vehicle at a gas station in North Chicago Sunday evening, police said.

The North Chicago Fire Department and North Chicago Police Department responded around 5:15 p.m. Sunday to the area of the 1000 block of Jackson Street in North Chicago for a report of shots fired.

North Chicago police officers arrived and located a 14-year-old boy who was critically injured, according to Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokeswoman Heather Cognac.

The boy was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.

Police investigate a homicide that occurred at the Citgo gas station at 10th Street and Jackson Street in North Chicago Sunday evening. | Photo: Willie Gillespie (@wgweather)

A preliminary investigation shows the victim was at the Citgo station on Jackson Street and 10th Street when he engaged with several occupants of a vehicle in the Citgo parking lot.

An occupant of the vehicle and the juvenile victim exchanged gunfire and the vehicle fled the area, Cognac said.

Waukegan police officers located the suspect vehicle.

A short time later, the vehicle crashed in the parking lot of the Home Depot on Belvidere Road in Waukegan.

Police investigate a homicide that occurred at the Citgo gas station at 10th Street and Jackson Street in North Chicago Sunday evening. | Photo: Willie Gillespie (@wgweather)

The vehicle’s occupants fled from officers and three suspects were taken into custody inside the business, Cognac said.

Due to the seriousness of the incident, the North Chicago Police Department requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force.

North Chicago police detectives and Major Crime Task Force investigators are actively investigating the homicide.

The Lake County Coroner's Office is in the process of scheduling an autopsy.

Anyone with information should contact the North Chicago Police Department or leave an anonymous tip with Lake County Crime Stoppers at 847-662-2222 or by visiting www.lakecountycrimestoppers.com.

Woman charged with making false 911 call, resisting arrest in Johnsburg

Posted: 15 May 2022 04:13 PM PDT

Jasmine M. Caldwell, 31, of Johnsburg.

A Johnsburg woman was charged after she allegedly made a 911 call falsely reporting a reckless driver and then resisted arrest when officers tried to arrest her in Johnsburg.

Jasmine M. Caldwell, 31, of the 3700 block of Spring Grove Road in Johnsburg, was charged with false alarm or complaint to 911, a Class 4 felony, and resisting a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said that Caldwell called 911 on Thursday.

Caldwell stated she was in a vehicle and was following a red Jeep that was driving “all over the roadway,” the criminal complaint said.

Caldwell knew there were “no reasonable grounds for making the call” and knew that it could result in the emergency response of police, the complaint said.

Caldwell allegedly resisted arrest from officers when she shut her front door and actively held the door closed.

Officers with the Johnsburg Police Department were eventually able to arrest the woman and transported her to the McHenry County Jail.

Caldwell was released from the jail Saturday morning after posting 10% of a $10,000 bond.

A court hearing is next scheduled for Tuesday in the case.

911 dispatcher recognized for guiding parents in delivering baby at residence near Lake Zurich

Posted: 15 May 2022 02:16 PM PDT

Lake Zurich Telecommunicator Olga Taylor was awarded a stork pin after she helped deliver a baby over the phone at an unincorporated Lake Zurich home. | Photo: Village of Lake Zurich

A Lake Zurich 911 dispatcher was recognized for guiding parents in delivering a baby at a home in unincorporated Lake Zurich.

Lake Zurich Telecommunicator Olga Taylor received a 911 call of a woman having a baby at a home in unincorporated Lake Zurich just before midnight on April 19.

Taylor immediately used her emergency medical dispatch (EMD) training to guide the woman through the birth, the Village of Lake Zurich said.

The baby was born within a minute of the call and Taylor guided the parents in cleaning the mouth and nose of the baby.

The parents wrapped the baby up for warmth and Taylor continued to provide instructions to the father on how to tie off the umbilical cord when the fire department arrived and took over care, the village added.

Taylor received a stork pin, which is a tradition in telecommunications for dispatchers who help deliver a baby.

Last month, the Illinois General Assembly unanimously passed Senate Bill 3127, which would classify Illinois emergency dispatchers as first responders.