Lake and McHenry County Scanner |
- Island Lake woman among 3 charged in scheme that stole over $2 million from banks
- Firefighters, good Samaritan assist in rescuing ducks from storm drain in Antioch
- Family lost home to fire in Ringwood after recently giving birth to baby
- 12 years in prison for Zion man who pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography
- Officials want escaped 1,300-pound bison roaming Wauconda area captured by end of month
- Homeowner, several cats evacuate safely from residence after fire in Cary
- ‘He had the biggest smile’: Coroner identifies 3-year-old boy struck, killed by school bus in Cary
- Woman sentenced to 5 years in prison for fatally hitting bicyclist with SUV and fleeing in Waukegan
- Family dog, resident escape without injury after house catches on fire in Barrington Hills
- Man charged with cutting man multiple times with large knife in Woodstock
- Illinois becomes first Midwest state to ban possession, sale of ‘ghost guns’
- Man found with gun after driving onto train and pedestrian bridge during police pursuit in Deerfield
- Child who was struck, killed by school bus in Cary was playing on ride-on toy, police say
- Authorities release identity of motorcyclist who died after crash with ambulance in Waukegan
- 1 hospitalized, over a dozen fire departments respond to chemical situation in Spring Grove
- ‘Kind, brilliant, ambitious’: Funeral service set for Grayslake teen killed in Oklahoma crash after storm chasing trip
- Resident injured in extra-alarm fire that heavily damaged garage of home in Ringwood
- Former Crystal Lake police officer pleads guilty to fraudulently receiving almost $100K in line-of-duty injury scheme
- North Chicago man charged with shooting, killing 14-year-old boy during shootout in North Chicago
- Motorcyclist dies after suffering severe injuries during crash involving ambulance in Waukegan
- Young child dies after being hit by school bus in Cary
| Island Lake woman among 3 charged in scheme that stole over $2 million from banks Posted: 19 May 2022 05:50 PM PDT    An Island Lake woman was among three individuals who were arrested Tuesday after authorities say they defrauded multiple banks of over $2 million. Jennifer Thompson, 48, of Island Lake, was one of three who were arrested by the Will County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday morning. The sheriff’s office said that Thompson and two others allegedly defrauded various financial institutions of over $2.5 million and credit lenders of over $400,000. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies conducted three search warrants simultaneously at two homes and a business early Tuesday morning and seized five vehicles totaling over $1 million. Mays Abuhattab, 36, of New Lenox, was arrested for the offense of structuring, a criminal complaint said. Abuhattab allegedly attempted to cause JPMorgan Chase to fail to make a record as required by the currency report act. In September 2021, Abuhattab made separate deposits into her Chase bank account, the complaint said. She then allegedly transferred $77,000 to the Bank of Palestine a week after making the separate deposits. Abuhattab was arrested for the offense of money laundering when she made a series of financial transactions and knowingly knew the transactions were the proceeds of a felony, the complaint said. A judge issued an arrest warrant for Abuhattab and set her bond at $1.5 million on Monday. Thompson was arrested for the offense of continuing financial crimes enterprise after she allegedly committed three separate offenses of financial institution fraud within a span of 18 months. Thompson allegedly wrote three separate checks totaling $248,000 to Chase bank knowing there were insufficient funds to cover any of the checks. Eddie Wood, 39, of New Lenox, was arrested on two counts of continuing financial crimes enterprise after he allegedly initiated three electronic transfers at the Old Plank Trail Community Bank totaling $95,000 and later made three more transfers totaling $380,000 knowing he had insufficient funds to cover all of them. Wood was also charged with two counts of financial institution fraud when he knowingly participated in schemes to defraud the Old Plank Trail Community Bank when he purchased two cashier’s checks of over $33,000 and $100,000 knowing there were insufficient funds, the sheriff’s office said. Wood used the first check of $33,086.30 to buy a 2021 GMC Yukon. On Monday, a judge issued an arrest warrant for both Thompson and Wood and set their bond at $500,000 and $1.5 million, respectively. Will County sheriff’s detectives spent hundreds of hours in the 18-month long investigation. Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley said, “The crimes that these individuals committed are not violent, but they are destructive nonetheless. Due to hard work, determination, and attention to detail, these three individuals will no longer be able to live a lavish lifestyle and are behind bars.” “This is just another example of how hard our financial crimes detectives work. I would also like to thank the members of the United States Secret Service and the Illinois Department of Revenue for their assistance in this investigation,” Kelley added. |
| Firefighters, good Samaritan assist in rescuing ducks from storm drain in Antioch Posted: 19 May 2022 02:50 PM PDT    A good Samaritan along with firefighters on Wednesday helped rescue and reunite two baby ducks that had fallen into a storm drain in Antioch. The Antioch Fire Department responded around 1:05 p.m. Wednesday to the Antioch Community High School, 1133 Main Street. Fire officials said they were called to the scene for a duck rescue. The fire truck crew was informed that two baby ducks had fallen into a storm drain in the parking lot. A good Samaritan was already working on removing the baby ducks when Deputy Fire Chief Jim Cook spotted the mother duck and the rest of her brood moving away from the incident.  “Seeing as how DC Cook was the only member on scene that spoke Duck he went to stop the mother duck from moving too far away and miss out on reuniting the family,” the fire department said on social media. The bystander walked up with one of the rescued ducks and gave it back to the mother duck. “The baby and momma made contact and were happy to see each other.” One of the firefighters then approached the mother with the second baby duck but the mother duck went into “full attack mode,” the fire department said. “Wings of fury lept off the ground and swooped in on poor FF Lienhardt. The assault was witnessed by DC Cook who was in shock from the sudden act of violence,” the department said jokingly in their post. In the end, the entire duck family was safe and secure, officials said. “Just another day in the service of the community by the Antioch Fire Department.” |
| Family lost home to fire in Ringwood after recently giving birth to baby Posted: 19 May 2022 01:59 PM PDT    Almost $10,000 has been raised for a family with a newborn baby who lost their belongings after their home was heavily damaged in an extra-alarm fire in Ringwood on Monday. The McHenry Township Fire Protection District was dispatched around 3:56 p.m. Monday to the 4800 block of Inmans Way in Ringwood for a report of a structure fire. McHenry Township Fire Protection District Battalion Chief David Harwood said crews arrived to find an active fire in a single-family residence. Heavy fire was showing from a three-car attached garage and it was starting to spread to the residence.  Firefighters confirmed all residents were out of the house, Harwood said. Crews used two hose lines and began extinguishing the fire. Due to the rural location, moderate winds and no fire hydrants, the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the second alarm, Harwood said. The fire was declared under control in approximately 20 minutes. One resident was evaluated after suffering smoke inhalation but refused transport to a hospital. Fire departments from Richmond, Spring Grove, Fox Lake, Wonder Lake, Crystal Lake, Woodstock, Wauconda, Fox River Grove, Hebron, Harvard, Grayslake, Mundelein, Huntley, Cary, Nunda-Rural, Round Lake and Lave Villa assisted during the call.  The home has been declared uninhabitable and a damage estimate was not immediately available. A GoFundMe account created by Ringwood resident Jackie Buchert has already raised $9,200 in two days. Buchert said that the home was “completely destroyed” and the Smith family’s belongings were also damaged. “Last January, Pat and Danielle moved into their beautiful home and recently welcomed a sweet baby girl, Lennon, to their family. The entire family was home at the time of the fire, and thankfully they all, including Lily (their dog), were able to evacuate safely. Unfortunately, all of their belongings were lost,” Buchert said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. |
| 12 years in prison for Zion man who pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography Posted: 19 May 2022 11:08 AM PDT   A judge sentenced a Zion man to 12 years in prison on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography following an investigation by the Illinois attorney general and police. Darin Richardson, 52, of Zion, was charged with 15 counts of possession of child pornography, which are Class 2 felonies. In November, Richardson pleaded guilty to five of the counts in exchange for the remainder being dismissed, court records show. The investigation into Richardson was initiated by the Racine County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin, which notified Illinois authorities after a subpoena response showed he was an Illinois resident. The Lake County Sheriff's Office, investigators with the Lake County State's Attorney's Office and Homeland Security Investigations all assisted the attorney general’s office in the investigation. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in July 2020 that his investigators, along with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, conducted a search warrant at Richardson’s residence on West State Line Road in Zion. Prosecutors alleged that Richardson possessed child pornography involving a victim under the age of 13. Richardson was taken into custody and has remained held in the Lake County Jail on a $300,000 bond since his arrest. Lake County Judge Patricia Fix on Wednesday sentenced Richardson to 12 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. “Survivors of child exploitation and abuse are re-victimized each and every time an image is downloaded or shared online,” Raoul said. “This sentencing highlights the importance of collaborative work between the Attorney General's office, local law enforcement agencies and state's attorneys throughout Illinois to ensure justice for victims of exploitation and sexual assault,” Raoul said. Richardson was previously court-martialed and found guilty in 1991 of committing an indecent act upon a male under the age of 16, committing an indecent act upon a female under the age of 16, taking indecent liberties with a male under the age of 16, and taking indecent liberties with a female under the age of 16. Richardson had been dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Army and sentenced to six years confinement at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. for those crimes. “I am very proud of the collaboration in this investigation and arrest, which led to the apprehension of a man who preyed on our most vulnerable,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “Child predators commonly lurk in the shadows of the internet. I cannot stress it enough: parents, please be proactive in monitoring who your children communicate with online,” Idleburg added. Raoul's office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. The Attorney General's ICAC Task Force has been involved in more than 1,700 arrests of sexual predators since 2006. |
| Officials want escaped 1,300-pound bison roaming Wauconda area captured by end of month Posted: 19 May 2022 09:25 AM PDT    Forest preserve officials say they are working to have a 1,300-pound bison, which escaped from a farm in September, humanely captured in Wauconda by the end of this month. “Tyson the Bison,” also called “Billy the Bison,” has been on the loose in the western Lake County and eastern McHenry County area. The female bison was being corralled into an enclosure from a trailer when she managed to escape from a farm in Wauconda in mid-September. The animal has been spotted dozens of times by Wauconda and Island Lakes residents, who have taken videos and photos and posted them on social media. It was most recently spotted in the Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda.  "The goal is to have the farm animal removed by Memorial Day weekend when preserve attendance traditionally increases," said John Tannahill, director of public safety at the Lake County Forest Preserves. "The safety of our users and the animal is our No. 1 priority. Bison is considered domestic livestock, therefore a forest preserve is not an appropriate home," Tannahill said. The animal’s owner has been working with forest preserve ranger police to lure the bison with food into a barn so it can be enclosed and taken to its home. Tannahill said fines could be issued to the owner if the bison is not removed. The animal has not approached any humans. "However, with the busy summer season approaching, we have to get the bison off the property for everyone's safety," Tannahill said. The forest preserve said they recommend that persons and animals do not try to approach, capture, chase or attempt to pet the animal. Anyone who spots the animal should immediately contact the Lake County Forest Preserve Ranger Police by calling 847-549-5200. |
| Homeowner, several cats evacuate safely from residence after fire in Cary Posted: 19 May 2022 07:15 AM PDT    A homeowner and several cats were able to safely evacuate after a fire started in a residence in Cary Wednesday, fire officials said. The Cary Fire Protection District was dispatched around 4:48 p.m. Wednesday to the 800 block of Oak Valley Drive in Cary for a report of a structure fire. Cary Fire Protection District Spokesman Alex Vucha said crews arrived within three minutes. Firefighters found smoke showing from a townhome on the corner of Oak Valley Drive and Linden Court. Firefighters quickly stretched hose lines to the home and went inside to investigate, Vucha said.  Fire crews determined the furnace in a utility closet failed, causing a small fire. Fire and heat damage was isolated to the furnace unit. The home had working smoke detectors which alerted the resident of the fire. The homeowner and several cats escaped unharmed, Vucha said. No injuries were reported. Firefighters remained on the scene for an additional hour ventilating the home and conjoining units. |
| ‘He had the biggest smile’: Coroner identifies 3-year-old boy struck, killed by school bus in Cary Posted: 18 May 2022 05:13 PM PDT    The coroner’s office has released the identity of a 3-year-old boy who was killed after being hit by a school bus in Cary. His family said he was a “little light of sunshine.” An autopsy performed Wednesday by Dr. Kristin Escobar with the McHenry County Coroner’s Office showed that Samuel Huddleston, 3, of Cary, died as a result of multiple blunt force injuries. The Cary Police Department and Cary Fire Protection District responded around 3:39 p.m. Monday to the area of Cherry Street and Hill Street in Cary. Cary Deputy Police Chief Scott Naydenoff said that officers responded to a 911 call for a crash involving a child and a school bus. Emergency personnel arrived on the scene and confirmed a young child, identified as Huddleston, had been struck by a school bus, Naydenoff and the coroner’s office said. Huddleston was pronounced deceased at the scene. There was one student on the school bus in addition to the driver at the time of the incident. Neither the student on the bus nor the driver was injured during the collision, Naydenoff said. The Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT), which consists of members from the Cary, Harvard, Johnsburg, McHenry, Spring Grove, and Woodstock police departments, was activated to assist with the crash investigation. Naydenoff said Tuesday evening that the boy was riding on a “ride-on toy” in the street when he was hit. The school bus driver is cooperating with the police investigation. No charges have been filed as the investigation is still pending. An obituary for Huddleston said that he was “precious” and a “little light of sunshine.” “He had the biggest smile but also the best grumpy face. With four older brothers and a younger sister, he could run and chase the big boys but take time to snuggle with his sister. Although the youngest brother, he was always helping and watching out for them often keeping them out of trouble,” the obituary said. “He was an outside kid. Sam loved fishing, camping, and Big Foot hunting in the woods. Playing at the park and taking walks with his favorite neighbors were highlights of his day. His cowboy boots were his prized possession, was a big fan of Davey Crocket, Daniel Boone, and Jim Bowie,” his obituary read. A memorial visitation is scheduled for Saturday from 12 p.m. until the 4 p.m. funeral service at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Crystal Lake. The crash remains under investigation by the Cary Police Department and MCAT. |
| Woman sentenced to 5 years in prison for fatally hitting bicyclist with SUV and fleeing in Waukegan Posted: 18 May 2022 04:24 PM PDT   A 47-year-old Zion woman was sentenced Wednesday to five years in prison for fatally striking a bicyclist with her SUV in Waukegan and fleeing the scene. Linda J. Ray, 47, of Zion, was charged in July 2020 with leaving the scene of an accident causing death and failure to report an accident involving death. The Waukegan Police Department said that Chad Aiello, 37, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was riding his bicycle around 11:30 p.m. on June 4, 2020. Officers found Aiello, a father of one, badly injured in the 3600 block of North Lewis Avenue. Police said that an ambulance transported Aiello to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he was later pronounced dead. The Waukegan Police Department's Major Crash Unit (MCU) was called to investigate. Investigators learned Aiello was riding a bicycle southbound on Lewis Avenue in the northbound lanes. A black 2015 Cadillac SUV, driven by Ray, was traveling northbound on Lewis Avenue when it struck the bicyclist and fled the scene, police said. A jury found Ray guilty of aggravated leaving the scene of an accident involving death in March. Aiello’s friends and family filled the courtroom at a sentencing hearing Wednesday. Give victim impact statements were written by Aiello’s parents, daughter, sister and girlfriend. Lake County Assistant State’s Attorneys Lauren Kalcheim Rothenberg and Scott Hoffert read three of the statements. The other two were read by the family members themselves. All the statements expressed the pain Aiello’s friends and family felt since he died, describing the feeling of not having him around as a “hole” left in their hearts. Lake County Judge Charles Smith sentenced Ray to five years in prison, saying that people fleeing scenes after tragic accidents cannot be tolerated. Even though the sentence cannot bring Aiello back, Smith hopes the family can get closure. Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart praised prosecutors and said his office will continue to fight for victims by bringing offenders to justice. |
| Family dog, resident escape without injury after house catches on fire in Barrington Hills Posted: 18 May 2022 02:36 PM PDT    No injuries were reported after a fire broke out in a kitchen of a home in Barrington Hills Wednesday morning, fire officials said. The Fox River Grove Fire Protection District responded around 8:34 a.m. Wednesday to the 0-10 block of Burning Oak Trail in Barrington Hills for a report of an appliance on fire. Fox River Grove Fire Protection District Spokesman Alex Vucha said firefighters arrived within four minutes to find flames showing from the front of a large brick residential structure. The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the box alarm level. The MABAS box prompted the response of nearly a dozen fire departments, including Cary, Barrington, Wauconda, Algonquin, Hoffman Estates, Nunda Rural, Crystal Lake, East Dundee, McHenry and Lake Zurich. Firefighters quickly deployed hose lines and attacked the fire from inside the home, Vucha said. Firefighters were able to quickly stop the fire from extending past the kitchen. The entire home sustained moderate smoke damage. Vucha said the fire was reported to 911 by an occupant of the home. The occupant and family dog escaped unharmed. No injuries were reported to any of the firefighters. Damage estimates were not immediately available. The cause of the fire remains under investigation but is not believed to be suspicious in nature. |
| Man charged with cutting man multiple times with large knife in Woodstock Posted: 18 May 2022 01:38 PM PDT   A Woodstock man was arrested after he allegedly cut another person multiple times with a large kitchen knife in Woodstock on Saturday, police said. Wayne S. Dobbins, 54, of the 800 block of Prairie View Lane in Woodstock, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon, a Class 3 felony. A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said Dobbins used a large kitchen carving knife to cut a male victim on Saturday. The incident occurred in the kitchen of Dobbins’ apartment and the complaint said Dobbins cut the victim on his chest and leg with the knife. Woodstock Deputy Police Chief Ray Lanz said the victim sustained several minor lacerations. The victim refused any medical assistance and did not require transport to a hospital. Dobbins and the victim are roommates. Lanz said that the incident began over a dispute regarding financial issues. Officers with the Woodstock Police Department arrested Dobbins around 11 a.m. Saturday and transported him to the McHenry County Jail. Dobbins remains held in the jail on a $25,000 bond. He would need to post $2,500 cash in order to be released. McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge denied Dobbins’ request for a bond reduction on Wednesday. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 3. |
| Illinois becomes first Midwest state to ban possession, sale of ‘ghost guns’ Posted: 18 May 2022 11:30 AM PDT    Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday signed a bill into law banning the sale and possession of “ghost guns” in Illinois, saying that they pose an “unprecedented threat.” Pritzker signed House Bill 4383 into law Wednesday morning while holding a press conference at The Ark of St. Sabina in Chicago. Ghost guns refer to unserialized privately made firearms that are often sold as a set of parts to be assembled at home, allowing prohibited purchasers to circumvent background checks. Ghost guns cannot be traced by conventional means and can be created on a 3-D printer, leaving no record of their ownership, officials said. “The people creating, selling, and purchasing these firearms know that they're working to circumvent common-sense gun laws that ensure guns stay out of the hands of traffickers, abusers, and convicted criminals,” Pritzker said. “We are seeing these unserialized guns being built in basements by those who should never have had access to such dangerous weapons and then used to commit heinous crimes, and it must be stopped to keep Illinoisans safe,” Pritzker added. The governor’s office said in a statement that Illinois is a “trailblazer [in] the fight against ghost guns.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives has focused on ghost guns, recognizing the “unprecedented threat these unregulated weapons pose,” the governor’s office said. The Illinois State Police have worked on 28 cases involving ghost guns this month alone. The governor’s office said that ghost guns are cheaper and easier to acquire than conventional firearms and therefore more accessible to young people. Pritzker said the bill signed into law is part of a “holistic, multi-pronged” approach to violence prevention. “Recent events serve as a tragic reminder of the rising toll of gun violence across this country. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to protect Illinoisans, which is what this new law does,” said Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). “Untraceable guns are a rapidly growing threat to our communities and law enforcement,” said Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Welch. “I'm proud to see Illinois become the first state in the Midwest to ban ghost guns, and to keep these weapons out of the hands of dangerous criminals,” Welch said. In 2021, Pritzker signed legislation expanding background checks on gun sales in Illinois and modernizing the Firearm Owners Identification Card System. |
| Man found with gun after driving onto train and pedestrian bridge during police pursuit in Deerfield Posted: 18 May 2022 09:47 AM PDT   A 22-year-old man, who was found in possession of a gun, is facing a slew of charges after he allegedly drove onto a pedestrian and train bridge while trying to flee from police in Deerfield. Jonathon G. Lopez, 22, of the 1300 block of Pitner in Evanston, was charged with two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, criminal damage to property, two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while license suspended or revoked, fleeing to elude a peace officer, reckless driving, speeding and possession of cannabis. A Deerfield police officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a 2011 Mazda around 4:30 a.m. on May 4 near Lake Cook Road and Deer Lake Road. According to a police report, the Mazda fled from officers in the parking lot of Home Depot on Lake Cook Road. The Mazda began driving towards the Lake Cook Road Metra Station and drove onto the pedestrian platform at the train station. The vehicle proceeded northbound over the Lake Cook Road bridge, which is designed only for pedestrians and trains, the report said. Officers located the vehicle near Kates Road and Kelburn Road and it continued to flee until it crashed in the 500 block of Kelburn Road. Officers arrested Lopez and two female passengers in the vehicle. A gun was found on the driver’s side floorboard, the report said. Paramedics evaluated the three occupants of the Mazda and all refused treatment. Lopez, who told police that he was “drunk” and admitted to possessing the gun, was found with $750 cash and a digital measuring scale, the police report said. Lopez was released from the Lake County Jail after posting 10% of his $25,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 10 for a preliminary hearing. |
| Child who was struck, killed by school bus in Cary was playing on ride-on toy, police say Posted: 18 May 2022 08:05 AM PDT    A 3-year-old boy who was killed after being struck by a school bus in Cary on Monday was playing in the street on a ride-on toy, police said. The Cary Police Department and Cary Fire Protection District responded around 3:39 p.m. Monday to the area of Cherry Street and Hill Street in Cary. Cary Deputy Police Chief Scott Naydenoff said that officers responded to a 911 call for a crash involving a child and a school bus. Emergency personnel arrived on the scene and confirmed a young child had been struck by a school bus, Naydenoff said. The 3-year-old child was pronounced deceased at the scene. There was one student on the school bus in addition to the driver at the time of the incident. Neither the student on the bus nor the driver was injured during the collision, Naydenoff said. The Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT), which consists of members from the Cary, Harvard, Johnsburg, McHenry, Spring Grove, and Woodstock police departments, was activated to assist with the crash investigation. Naydenoff said Tuesday evening that the boy was riding on a “ride-on toy” in the street when he was hit. The school bus driver is cooperating with the police investigation. No charges have been filed as the investigation is still pending. The McHenry County Coroner’s Office has not released the child’s identity yet. The crash remains under investigation by the Cary Police Department and MCAT. |
| Authorities release identity of motorcyclist who died after crash with ambulance in Waukegan Posted: 17 May 2022 05:10 PM PDT    The coroner’s office has identified a 23-year-old man who died after a crash involving a motorcycle and an ambulance that was transporting a patient to the hospital in Waukegan. An autopsy performed Tuesday showed that Donald Stallworth III, 23, of North Chicago, died as a result of blunt force injuries from a crash, according to Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton. 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.  Zupec said that patient care was initiated on Stallworth 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. Stallworth was transported by ambulance to Vista Medical Center East with life-threatening injuries. He later died from his 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 City of Waukegan said in a statement that they “send their deepest condolences” to Stallworth’s family. The crash remains under investigation by the Waukegan Police Department. |
| 1 hospitalized, over a dozen fire departments respond to chemical situation in Spring Grove Posted: 17 May 2022 04:42 PM PDT    Over a dozen fire departments responded to a neighborhood in Spring Grove after a pool company employee was injured during a chlorine reaction incident Monday evening. The Spring Grove Fire Department responded around 6:45 p.m. Monday to the 8700 block of Galleria Court in Spring Grove. Spring Grove Fire Chief Paul Klicker told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the incident stemmed from faulty pails of ProTeam High Tech Tabs. 50-pound pails purchased from Novotny Sales in Johnsburg with lot codes 21H52 511, 21H53 511, 21H54 511 and 21H55 511 have been recalled. The pails contain chlorine tablets designed for swimming pools.  An employee of Haviland Pool and Spa Products was at a home on Galleria Court picking up those drums. The employee’s vehicle’s trailer was carrying “a lot” of the recalled 50-gallon pails, Klicker said. A hazardous reaction occurred with the drums. The Haviland employee sustained an injury to his hand and was transported to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry with non-life-threatening injuries, Klicker said. According to the company, the hazard in the recalled pails relates when it comes to handling them. The pail may burst open with force and cause a strong chlorine smell.  Fire department crews remained at the scene on Galleria Court until around noon on Tuesday mitigating the situation. The scene was turned over to representatives from Haviland Pool and Spa Products. Anyone who purchased ProTeam 50-pound High Tech Tabs from Novotny Sales in Johnsburg between April 28 and May 3 should check their pails to see if theirs include the recalled lot codes, which are listed on a sticker on the side of the drums. Those who cannot tell if their pails are marked with the recalled lot codes and those who confirm they have the recalled pails should not handle or touch the drums. Customers should immediately call Haviland Pool and Spa Products at 616-365-3618 and open their garage or shed for ventilation. |
| Posted: 17 May 2022 02:41 PM PDT    A funeral service is scheduled for Wednesday for the 19-year-old Grayslake man who was among three meteorology students killed in a crash in Oklahoma after storm chasing last month. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said that the victims in the incident were Nicholas K. Nair, 20, of Denton, Texas, Gavin A. Short, 19, of Grayslake, and Drake H. Brooks, 22, of Evansville, Indiana. Nair was driving a 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan southbound on Interstate 35 near Tonkawa, Oklahoma, around 11:30 p.m. on April 29. Short and Brooks were passengers in the vehicle, which became disabled and was blocking the outside lane of the interstate, the highway patrol said in a report. A semi-truck traveling in the southbound lanes crashed into the stopped Volkswagen. The three men were heavily entrapped in the car and it took hours to free them. All three were pronounced dead at the scene. The University of Oklahoma said in a statement that Nair, Short and Brooks were students at their university. “Each were valued and loved members of our community.” The Oklahoman reported that the three students had been storm chasing a tornado near Herrington, Kansas, and were returning back to Oklahoma. Short’s brother, Evan Short, 17, told the newspaper that Gavin “lived more in his 1.5 years at OU than in his first 18 years of life.” “I can find solace in the idea that now he can live among the clouds which he loved so much,” Evan Short said. According to an obituary published on Sunday, Short lived “so much in his 19 years” by traveling to 46 states and often planning family road trips himself. “His true calling was the field of meteorology, also known as “sky math.” He had a passion for weather, often providing forecast reports to his family, friends, and classmates,” his obituary said. Short attended Woodland School District 50 and graduated from Grayslake Central High School. “He was an excellent student who had a special gift for mathematics. Gavin loved learning and shared his knowledge and abilities in many subjects with others. He participated in the Academic Team, Math Team, Symphonic Band, and was a member of the National Honor Society,” the obituary said. Short, who was a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma, was majoring in meteorology and minoring in geographic information systems, mathematics, and Spanish. He was doing undergraduate research on tropical cyclones with CIWRO within the National Weather Center, according to his obituary. “Gavin has been described by his friends as kind, brilliant, ambitious, helpful, funny, and passionate. His bright smile, silly laugh, and kind soul touched thousands of people in his young life.” A visitation is taking place from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Gurnee. A funeral Service begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. |
| Resident injured in extra-alarm fire that heavily damaged garage of home in Ringwood Posted: 17 May 2022 12:47 PM PDT    One person was injured during an extra-alarm fire fueled by winds and a lack of fire hydrants in Ringwood Monday afternoon, McHenry fire officials said. The McHenry Township Fire Protection District was dispatched around 3:56 p.m. Monday to the 4800 block of Inmans Way in Ringwood for a report of a structure fire. McHenry Township Fire Protection District Battalion Chief David Harwood said crews arrived to find an active fire in a single-family residence. Heavy fire was showing from a three-car attached garage and it was starting to spread to the residence. Firefighters confirmed all residents were out of the house, Harwood said. Crews used two hose lines and began extinguishing the fire. Due to the rural location, moderate winds and no fire hydrants, the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the second alarm, Harwood said. The fire was declared under control in approximately 20 minutes. One resident was evaluated after suffering smoke inhalation but refused transport to a hospital. Fire departments from Richmond, Spring Grove, Fox Lake, Wonder Lake, Crystal Lake, Woodstock, Wauconda, Fox River Grove, Hebron, Harvard, Grayslake, Mundelein, Huntley, Cary, Nunda-Rural, Round Lake and Lave Villa assisted during the call. The home has been declared uninhabitable and a damage estimate was not immediately available. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. |
| Posted: 17 May 2022 11:05 AM PDT   A former Crystal Lake police officer avoided prison after pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining almost $100,000 in benefits after falsely claiming he was injured from an on-duty crash. Victor Robelet, 45, of the 12400 block of Lasalle Lane in Huntley, was charged with 11 counts of Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act Fraud, two counts of theft by deception, insurance fraud, state benefits fraud and forgery. A motion filed by Assistant State’s Attorney Randi Freese said that Robelet was employed by the City of Crystal Lake as a police officer. Robelet was on patrol on August 19, 2014, when he was rear-ended by another driver. The other driver reported that she was traveling at less than 10 mph and Robelet was evaluated by paramedics and released at the scene without needing to be transported to the hospital, Freese said. Both vehicles sustained “very minor” damage and Robelet drove his squad car back to the Crystal Lake Police Department. Police administration sent Robelet to a physician and he told the doctor he had been rear-ended by a vehicle traveling 30-40 mph. The treating physician diagnosed him with a left shoulder strain and a left-side cervical strain. Freese said that Robelet worked for the next nine weeks on regular duty as a police officer without any complaints about being able to perform his duties. He also worked approximately 56.5 hours of overtime. Robelet in late October 2014 obtained an MRI of his left shoulder and never again returned to work. The City of Crystal Lake and its insurance provider, Illinois Risk Management Agency, hired a private company to conduct surveillance on Robelet due to his sudden inability to work perform work, even light-duty, the motion said. Robelet was surveilled in November 2014 moving in a fluid and unrestricted manner, Freese said. He was seen lifting multiple items with both arms and was also seen driving multiple times. Due to his workers’ compensation claim, Robelet was paid 100% of his salary through July 2015. Robelet underwent surgery on his left shoulder in January 2015 and doctors said the surgery was successful and expected him to make a full recovery and return to work. Robelet told doctors and physical therapists that he was unable to drive safely and that regular movement caused him “great pain,” Freese said. The man was surveilled again in March 2015 which showed him driving on a number of occasions despite telling doctors that he could not drive. Robelet was also surveilled lifting his young child and other items without any indication of pain or limitations, the motion said. Police administration in May 2015 met with Robelet’s doctor and inquired about the results of a follow-up MRI, which the doctor said showed no tear. Court records show Robelet entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office on May 9. He pleaded guilty to one count of Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act Fraud in excess of $10,000, a Class 2 felony. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed the rest of the charges against Robelet, who was fired from his job in July 2015. McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge approved the plea deal and sentenced Robelet to two years of conditional discharge and ordered him to pay $1,374 in court fines and fees. Robelet was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $72,963 to the Intergovernmental Risk Management Agency and $21,576 to the City of Crystal Lake. |
| North Chicago man charged with shooting, killing 14-year-old boy during shootout in North Chicago Posted: 17 May 2022 08:54 AM PDT    An 18-year-old man is being held on a $3 million bond after he was charged with the murder of a 14-year-old boy who was shot multiple times at a gas station in North Chicago Sunday evening. Amireon C. Williams, 18, of North Chicago, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of obstructing justice. The charges against Williams stem from the fatal shooting of Lavon'ta Brown, 14, of North Chicago, who the coroner’s office said died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. Assistant State’s Attorney Lindsay Hicks said during a Tuesday bond hearing that video surveillance captured a gold Chevrolet Malibu at a gas pump at the Citgo gas station at 10th Street and Jackson Street in North Chicago around 5:15 p.m. Sunday. Brown and a friend of his approached the gas station and the rear passenger side door of the Chevrolet opened.  An individual pointed a gun out of the car. The rear driver-side window also was rolled down and Williams pointed a gun out the window, Hicks said. Both Williams and the second suspect, who was not publicly identified, fired shots toward Brown and his friend, Hicks said. Brown pulled out a gun and shot back after being shot. Brown then tried running away but collapsed in the alley due to a gunshot wound to the chest. The boy was transported to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving, the coroner’s office said. The Chevrolet drove off and crashed near the Home Depot on Belvidere Road in Waukegan. Six individuals were observed fleeing the vehicle and three of them, including Williams, were detained inside the Home Depot, Hicks said. Police found a black hoodie in the Home Depot bathroom that Williams was believed to be wearing.  Hicks said that Williams gave a false name to officers, who recovered a 9mm handgun under the rear driver seat of the Chevrolet where Williams was sitting. Two witnesses also identified Williams as the shooter. Williams had multiple warrants in separate cases at the time of his arrest, including one case where he allegedly fired shots at two women. Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Williams held in the Lake County Jail on a $3 million bond. Investigators believe Brown was specifically targeted and the shooting was gang-related, according to Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokeswoman Heather Cognac. Anyone with information in the shooting 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. |
| Motorcyclist dies after suffering severe injuries during crash involving ambulance in Waukegan Posted: 17 May 2022 07:21 AM PDT   A motorcyclist has died from his injuries after a crash involving an ambulance that was transporting a patient to the hospital in Waukegan, authorities 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. 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. He later died from his injuries. An autopsy is being scheduled by the Lake County Coroner’s Office. 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. |
| Young child dies after being hit by school bus in Cary Posted: 16 May 2022 06:16 PM PDT A young child died after they were struck by a school bus in a neighborhood in Cary Monday afternoon, police said. The Cary Police Department and Cary Fire Protection District responded around 3:39 p.m. Monday to the area of Cherry Street and Hill Street in Cary. Cary Deputy Police Chief Scott Naydenoff said that officers responded to a 911 call for a crash involving a child and a school bus. Emergency personnel arrived on the scene and confirmed a young child had been struck by a school bus, Naydenoff said. The child was pronounced deceased at the scene. There was one student on the school bus in addition to the driver at the time of the incident. Neither the student on the bus nor the driver was injured during the collision, Naydenoff said. The Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT), which consists of members from the Cary, Harvard, Johnsburg, McHenry, Spring Grove, and Woodstock police departments, was activated to assist with the crash investigation. No further details were released and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office is in the process of scheduling an autopsy. The crash remains under investigation by the Cary Police Department and MCAT. |
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