Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Man charged with swinging crowbar at bar employee, hitting countertop in Harvard

Posted: 08 May 2022 12:32 PM PDT

Colby E. Wilbur, 48, of Harvard, (inset) was charged in connection with a disturbance at the Front Street Tap in Harvard on Wednesday. | Background Photo: Google Street View

An intoxicated man who walked into a bar with a crowbar, swung it at a bartender and damaged a counter was arrested in Harvard, police said.

The Harvard Police Department responded around 8:50 p.m. Wednesday to the Front Street Tap, 106 East Front Street in Harvard, for a report of a disturbance.

Harvard Deputy Police Chief Tyson Bauman said it was reported that a man came into the establishment with a crowbar.

The man caused damage after hitting the bar top and then swung the crowbar at the bartender, Bauman said.

Officers were advised by witnesses on the scene that the suspect was fleeing in a red 2008 Ford truck.

Officers located the vehicle driving without its lights on a few blocks away and conducted a traffic stop at Page St and Diggins Street.

The driver, Colby E. Wilbur, 48, of the 23900 block of Center Street in unincorporated Harvard, was taken into custody.

Wilbur was charged with aggravated assault and criminal damage to property for the incident at Front Street Tap.

Officers also found Wilbur to be driving under the influence of alcohol and driving on a revoked license.

Wilbur was charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence, two counts of driving under the influence, two counts of driving while on a revoked license, headlight or taillight out, operating an uninsured motor vehicle and illegal transportation of alcohol by a driver.

He was transported to the McHenry County Jail where he remains held on a $60,000 bond.

Man facing attempted murder charge dies in hospital day after domestic disturbance, arson fire in McHenry

Posted: 08 May 2022 12:02 PM PDT

Police and the fire department investigate a domestic disturbance and a garage fire in the 3800 block of West Main Street in McHenry that left two people injured Friday. | Photo: Alex Vucha / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

A man charged with the attempted murder of a woman has died in the hospital after a garage fire, which police said was arson, left him critically injured in McHenry.

The McHenry Police Department received a call for a report of a domestic dispute around 5:30 a.m. Friday in the 3800 block of West Main Street in McHenry.

Officers arrived to find a detached garage on the property that was on fire.

The McHenry Township Fire Protection District responded to the scene and extinguished the garage fire.

A preliminary investigation was conducted and officers learned two of the property's residents, a 44-year-old woman and a 51-year-old man, had been involved in a physical altercation, McHenry police said in a statement.

Police and the fire department investigate a domestic disturbance and a garage fire in the 3800 block of West Main Street in McHenry that left two people injured Friday. | Photo: Alex Vucha / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

The female suffered a head wound and the man, identified as Michael A. Pica, suffered extensive burns on his body.

Pica and the woman were both transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital.

The woman was later transferred to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with non-life-threatening injuries.

Pica was also transferred to Advocate Condell Medical Center and later to Loyola Medical Center in Maywood with life-threatening injuries, police said.

A review of the incident and evidence was conducted and the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office approved multiple charges against Pica.

Police and the fire department investigate a domestic disturbance and a garage fire in the 3800 block of West Main Street in McHenry that left two people injured Friday. | Photo: Alex Vucha / Lake and McHenry County Scanner

He was charged with attempted murder, aggravated domestic battery, arson, two counts of aggravated battery and domestic battery.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said Sunday morning that Pica was pronounced dead at Loyola University Medical Center just after 4 a.m. Saturday.

Court records show Pica was charged in October 2020 with cutting a woman’s neck with a knife in McHenry. It was not clear if the victim in that case was the same as the one in the latest incident involving Pica.

The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal is assisting the McHenry Police Department and McHenry Township Fire Protection District in the investigation.

Police said they were not releasing additional information on the case yet due to the active investigation.

Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Division of the McHenry Police Department at 815-363-2599.

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the McHenry Police Department tip line at 815-363-2124.

Convicted felon out on probation found with handgun modified into automatic weapon in Zion

Posted: 08 May 2022 10:28 AM PDT

Montrell Lewis, 20, of Zion.

Police arrested a 20-year-old convicted felon, who is on probation, after finding him in possession of a handgun illegally modified into an automatic weapon in Zion.

Officers with the Zion Police Department midnight shift conducted a traffic stop around 4:20 a.m. Thursday.

Officers conducted the stop on a vehicle that was associated with several stolen vehicles throughout the area, police officials said.

A passenger, identified as Montrell E. Lewis, 20, of Zion, was arrested after officers found a gun.

Lewis was in possession of a 9mm Glock handgun that had an auto sear installed, police said.

The driver of the vehicle was cited for traffic violations while Lewis was charged with four counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 2 felony.

Lewis appeared in bond court on Thursday and a Lake County judge ordered him held on a $500,000 bond.

Court records show Lewis was convicted in March of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon after being found with a gun in Waukegan earlier this year.

Lewis was sentenced to 136 days in jail and 30 months of probation. He also received 68 days of credit for time served.

As of Sunday, Lewis remains held in the Lake County Jail in his latest case and would need to post $50,000 cash in order to be released.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on Friday for a status of attorney hearing.

Juvenile flown to hospital, 3 others hospitalized after two-vehicle crash near McHenry

Posted: 08 May 2022 08:29 AM PDT

A crash involving a pickup truck and a sedan left multiple injured near Bull Valley Road and Orchard Valley Drive in Bull Valley Friday afternoon, police said. | Photo Submitted to Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Police say a juvenile was flown to the hospital and three others, including a second juvenile, were also transported to the hospital after a reckless vehicle hit a pickup truck near McHenry.

The Bull Valley Police Department, McHenry Township Fire Protection District and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 3:35 p.m. Friday to the area of Bull Valley Road and Orchard Valley Drive in Bull Valley.

Bull Valley Police Chief Tracy Dickens told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the crash involved two vehicles — a gray sedan and a pickup truck.

The sedan, which was occupied by two juveniles, was traveling westbound on Bull Valley Road.

Dickens said that witnesses told police the sedan was swerving in and out of the eastbound lane of traffic just before hitting the pickup truck.

The pickup truck was traveling westbound at the time of the crash and was occupied by a male driver and a female passenger.

The collision caused substantial damage to both vehicles, Dickens said.

The juvenile passenger in the sedan was flown to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville by a LifeNet medical helicopter. His injuries were non-life-threatening.

The juvenile driver of the sedan was transported to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry with non-life-threatening injuries.

Dickens said the occupants of the truck were also both transported to Northwestern Hospital McHenry with non-life-threatening injuries.

The roadway was closed for several hours for a crash investigation.

Man flown to hospital with serious injuries after motorcycle crash near Marengo

Posted: 07 May 2022 04:26 PM PDT

Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts | LMCS File Photo

A man suffered serious injuries and had to be flown to the hospital after he crashed his motorcycle near Marengo Saturday afternoon, fire officials said.

The Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 2:14 p.m. Saturday to the 20300 block of Beck Road in unincorporated Marengo for a vehicle crash with injuries.

Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts Communication Specialist Alex Vucha said firefighters arrived to find a motorcycle crash.

The motorcycle was the only vehicle involved. It had driven off the roadway and struck a mailbox.

Vucha said paramedics found the male victim in a ditch.

He was conscious at the time but had suffered serious injuries, Vucha said.

A LifeNet medical helicopter was called and landed nearby the scene. It is unknown how long the roadway was closed.

Vucha said the helicopter flew the victim to Javon Bea Hospital Riverside in Rockford.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.

7 days in jail, public service for McHenry man who drove over 120 mph during police chase in Hebron

Posted: 07 May 2022 02:17 PM PDT

David J. Diedrich, 46, of McHenry.

A judge sentenced a McHenry man to seven days in jail and public service for fleeing from police at over 120 mph during a chase that began in Hebron.

David J. Diedrich, 46, of the 5800 block of Bunny Avenue in McHenry, was charged with one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding, a Class 4 felony.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said that Diedrich was driving a black 2003 Ford Mustang on September 30.

A Hebron police officer attempted to stop the Ford as it sped away from a business in the 9900 block of Main Street.

Diedrich allegedly drove eastbound on Route 173 from Main Street without stopping at the four-way stop sign intersection, the complaint said.

He then allegedly began speeding in excess of 80 mph in a 35 mph zone.

Diedrich continued to flee at speeds in excess of 120 mph in a 55 mph zone for nearly five miles, the complaint said.

The officer eventually lost sight of the Ford after it turned onto eastbound Broadway Road from Keystone Road and drove towards the intersection of Route 173 and Broadway Road in Richmond.

An arrest warrant was issued for Diedrich in early October and he was taken into custody in mid-November, court records show.

Diedrich, who has been out on bond since his arrest, reached a plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

He pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated fleeing to elude a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor.

In exchange, prosecutors dismissed Diedrich’s felony charge.

McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge sentenced Diedrich to seven days of periodic imprisonment in the McHenry County Jail and one year of conditional discharge.

Diedrich will also be required to serve 30 hours of community service and was ordered to pay $1,501 in court fines and fees.

Police investigating multiple vehicle burglaries overnight in Antioch subdivision

Posted: 07 May 2022 12:05 PM PDT

Trevor Creek of Antioch | Photo: Google Street View

Police are warning residents after several unlocked vehicles were burglarized by multiple suspects overnight in a neighborhood in Antioch.

The Antioch Police Department issued a community safety alert on social media Saturday morning.

The notification said that patrol officers discovered several vehicles, which were unlocked, that had been illegally entered.

The officers made the discovery overnight in the Trevor Creek subdivision of Antioch, which is on the north side of the village off of Trevor Road.

Officials believe four suspects were involved in the criminal activity.

They believe the incidents happened shortly after midnight until around 2 a.m. Saturday.

The department said they are asking the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity by calling 847-270-9111.

Police also asked residents not to confront the suspects and anyone with exterior cameras in the neighborhood should contact the department to assist with the investigation.

Police give shoutout to good Samaritans who stopped, tended to injured victim in McHenry crash

Posted: 07 May 2022 09:57 AM PDT

File Photo – McHenry Police | Photo: LMCS / File

Police thanked two good Samaritans who stopped at a vehicle crash in McHenry and helped tend to an injured victim until first responders arrived Friday.

The McHenry Police Department and McHenry Township Fire Protection District responded around 3:30 p.m. Friday to Route 31 and Shamrock Lane for a report of a two-vehicle crash with heavy damage.

Responding officers located the vehicles, one of which had an injured subject inside it.

The McHenry Police Department said that two Good Samaritans were passing by and decided to stop and help.

Stephan Zureck and Theresa Preusker both were tending to the injured subject and embracing him so he did not fall out of his vehicle, police said.

The two were speaking with him, reassuring him he would be okay and monitoring his health until paramedics arrived on the scene.

“Far too often actions like this, taken by good people, are overlooked or not properly acknowledged,” the McHenry Police Department said.

The department on social media gave a shout-out to Preusker and Zureck for their actions.

“Their actions are indicative of the good decent people in our amazing town. Thanks again,” the police said.

McHenry County Jail inmate charged with throwing urine onto corrections officer

Posted: 07 May 2022 08:25 AM PDT

Kwantrell C. Williams, 24, of Zion.

A McHenry County Jail inmate, being held on burglary and theft charges, was charged with throwing urine all over a corrections officer earlier this week, court records show.

Kwantrell C. Williams, 24, of the 2300 block of Joppa Avenue in Zion, was charged with aggravated battery of a correctional employee, a Class 2 felony.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges that Williams threw urine onto an officer’s hands, pants and shirt on Monday.

The corrections officer was collecting Williams’ styrofoam tray from the food port of his cell at the McHenry County Jail in Woodstock, the complaint said.

McHenry County Judge Tiffany Davis gave Williams a $25,000 bond, court records show. His total combined bond he is being held on is $190,000.

Williams has been held in the jail since March 1 after he was transferred from the Lake County Jail on McHenry County charges.

Williams was charged in early April with six counts of burglary, five counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, two counts of theft between $10,000 and $100,000, two counts of theft between $500 and $10,000, criminal damage to property over $10,000, two counts of criminal damage to property between $500 and $10,000, five counts of possession of burglary tools, five counts of unauthorized possession of license plates, three counts of criminal damage to property under $500, theft under $500, and aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer.

A criminal complaint said that Williams burglarized the Firestone Complete Auto Care, 6325 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, after damaging a glass window on January 24.

Williams allegedly stole automotive diagnostic computers from the business.

Minutes later, Williams burglarized the Swift Wash, 161 Liberty Road in Crystal Lake, after breaking a glass door, the complaint said.

Cash and an iPod were stolen in the burglary.

10 minutes later, Williams burglarized the Discount Muffler and Brake, 80 East Berkshire Drive in Crystal Lake, by smashing the glass windows, according to the complaint. An automotive battery charger was stolen.

Less than 20 minutes after that, Williams allegedly burglarized the BMO Harris bank, 5545 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, by smashing the glass windows, causing over $10,000 in damage.

Police officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Williams after the burglaries but he fled from them, the complaint said.

The complaint said that Williams came back one week later — on January 31 — and again burglarized the same Firestone Auto Care business by damaging a glass window.

During several of the burglaries, police said that Williams possessed a stolen 2015 Honda Accord.

New charges filed against Williams on Monday, in cases investigated by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, allege that Williams burglarized or attempted to burglarize three additional businesses on January 31.

The businesses include Frontline Automotive, 1701 West Route 120 in unincorporated McHenry; Caliber Collision, 5702 South Route 31 in unincorporated Crystal Lake; and the Mobil gas station, 4407 High Point in unincorporated McHenry.

From those burglaries, prosecutors charged Williams with three counts of burglary, three counts of possession of burglary tools and three counts of criminal damage to property.

On February 24, Williams allegedly burglarized the Little House of Cars, 805 East Terra Cotta Avenue in Crystal Lake, by breaking a glass window, according to a criminal complaint.

Williams was accused of stealing a Canon camera, vehicle key fobs and equipment batteries from Little House of Cars.

He also allegedly stole a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe and a 2015 Audi A4 from the business.

Williams was arrested in early March on separate charges for a burglary in June 2020 and has been held in the McHenry County Jail since his arrest.

Zion Police Department Lt. Paul Kehrli previously told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that Williams was behind approximately 60 burglaries throughout five counties in Illinois and Wisconsin, including Lake, McHenry, Cook, DuPage, Kenosha and Racine.

In Lake County, the burglaries occurred in multiple different towns, including Zion, Grayslake, Lake Villa and Gurnee.

Williams, who allegedly began committing the crime spree in the summer of 2021, would typically case the businesses before going back at night to burglarize them, Kehrli said.

Williams would steal vehicles during the burglaries and drive them to a storage facility before later dumping them, Kehrli said.

Kehrli also said that Williams’ half-brother served as a getaway driver at times and occasionally participated in some of the burglaries.

Williams evaded arrest numerous times before being arrested in February in Waukegan.

Kehrli said that Williams committed a “massive crime spree” and said that it could be screened for federal charges by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on May 13.