Lake and McHenry County Scanner

Woman airlifted to hospital, two others seriously injured after two-vehicle crash near Marengo

Posted: 12 Jun 2022 05:01 PM PDT

A woman was airlifted to the hospital and two others were seriously injured after a two-vehicle crash at Maple Street and West Coral Road in unincorporated Marengo Sunday afternoon. | Photo: MFRD

A crash involving two pickup trucks near Marengo left a woman critically injured and both drivers seriously injured Sunday afternoon.

The Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded at 2:56 p.m. Sunday to Maple Street and West Coral Road in unincorporated Marengo for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.

Fire crews arrived within eight minutes and found two pickup trucks off the roadway at the northeast corner of the intersection, according to Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts Communication Specialist Alex Vucha.

A woman was airlifted to the hospital and two others were seriously injured after a two-vehicle crash at Maple Street and West Coral Road in unincorporated Marengo Sunday afternoon. | Photo: MFRD

Both pickup trucks had heavy damage and one rolled over into a field.

The drivers both sustained serious injuries and were transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital, Vucha said.

A female passenger in the overturned pickup truck had critical injuries and a LifeNet medical helicopter was requested.

A woman was airlifted to the hospital and two others were seriously injured after a two-vehicle crash at Maple Street and West Coral Road in unincorporated Marengo Sunday afternoon. | Photo: MFRD

She was airlifted to Javon Bea Hospital – Riverside in Rockford, Vucha added.

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

The roads leading to the intersection remain closed as of Sunday evening.

$350,000 bond for convicted murderer found with loaded gun during traffic stop in Waukegan

Posted: 12 Jun 2022 03:10 PM PDT

Marvelo Wilson, 21, of Racine, Wisconsin.

A 21-year-old man, who is a convicted murderer, was arrested earlier this week when officers found him and a woman with loaded guns during a traffic stop in Waukegan, prosecutors said.

Marvelo Wilson, 21, of the 1100 block of Riley Court in Racine, Wisconsin, was charged with three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, obstructing identification and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said during a bond hearing that officers with the Waukegan Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle.

The stop happened on Wednesday and the vehicle had tinted windows and a tinted license plate cover.

Officers spotted the driver reaching behind a passenger seat during the stop.

Officers smelled an odor of cannabis and asked the driver and Wilson to exit the vehicle.

Wilson was the front seat passenger and he gave a fake name and date of birth to the officers, Katris said.

Michelle L. Anthony, 24, of Danville.

A search of the vehicle was conducted and officers found two guns inside under the passenger seat.

Katris said a loaded Glock 30 with an extended magazine was found to belong to Wilson.

Katris said a 9mm ghost gun with a laser sight was found to belong to the driver, Michelle L. Anthony, 24, of Danville.

Wilson does not have a Firearm Owner’s Identification card nor a concealed carry license. Anthony has a revoked Firearm Owner’s Identification card.

Wilson’s public defender asked the court to impose a reasonable cash bond.

Katris argued against the reasonable cash bond, saying that Wilson had a murder charge from 2016 when he was a juvenile. He had been sentenced to a detention center for five years in that case.

Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Wilson held on a $350,000 bond and ordered Anthony held on a $250,000 bond.

Anthony was charged with three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 6.

Lake, McHenry counties see spike in overdose deaths, offer free Narcan to residents

Posted: 12 Jun 2022 02:11 PM PDT

File Photo | LMCS File

Officials in Lake and McHenry counties both have issued warnings about a recent spike in overdose deaths. In McHenry County, the increase was “significant.”

The McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition issued an alert Friday morning after they were notified of multiple overdose deaths that occurred between May 23 and June 5.

“The number of deaths was significant,” the coalition said in a statement, adding that the deaths have not been confirmed as opioid-related yet.

“However, we are very aware that in McHenry County most overdose deaths occur because of opioids, most often fentanyl,” the coalition added.

Laura Crain, the program coordinator for the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition, said that as of Friday there had been 15 suspected overdose deaths so far in 2022 in McHenry County.

She said the total number of deaths between May 23 and June 5 was less than 10 but could not publicly release the specific number.

The Lake County Health Department issued an alert Friday afternoon about an increase in opioid-related overdoses in Lake County that occurred over the weekend of June 4.

Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton said his office has been called to five overdose deaths in the first 10 days of June.

The health department said there has been a nationwide surge in unintentional polysubstance and counterfeit prescription drug use.

Unintentional polysubstance use occurs when a person takes drugs that have been mixed with other products, such as fentanyl, without their knowledge.

Lake County opioid overdose deaths rose 19.5% in 2020.

“Our community, like many others throughout Illinois, have been impacted by the opioid overdose crisis,” said Lake County Health Department Executive Director Mark Pfister. “We must take steps to prevent overdose deaths and save lives.”

The Lake County Health Department said they are combating the opioid crisis in a multitude of ways, including the distribution of free Naloxone to community members and law enforcement personnel.

Naloxone, also known as Narcan, can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose when used in time.

“Opioid overdose is preventable and may be reversible with quick action,” said Lake County Health Department Medical Epidemiologist Dr. Sana Ahmed.

“Naloxone is a safe and effective tool that is known to save lives and it can easily be administered into the nose by anyone, including friends, family, and, non-medical community members,” Ahmed said.

Those in Lake County who wish to obtain free naloxone can call 847-377-8199 or visit www.lakecountyil.gov/naloxone.

Residents in McHenry County who wish to obtain free naloxone can call or text the organization Live4Lali at 224-297-4393. Warp Corps in Woodstock also provides free naloxone.

Harvard man arrested after cops find half-pound of cocaine in his car during traffic stop

Posted: 12 Jun 2022 12:32 PM PDT

Julio C. Rojas, 32, of Harvard.

Police arrested a Harvard man after they found him in possession of a half-pound of cocaine during a traffic stop in McHenry County earlier this week.

Julio C. Rojas, 32, of the 1300 block of 9th Street in Harvard, was charged with manufacture or delivery of 100-400 grams of cocaine, a Class X felony, and possession of 100-400 grams of cocaine, a Class 1 felony.

McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Hunter Jones said in a motion filed Wednesday that Rojas was stopped by members of the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday.

Rojas was alone in his vehicle and found to be in possession of approximately nine ounces of cocaine, which is more than a half-pound.

Jones said the cocaine has a conservative street value of $10,000.

Deputies were investigating Rojas at the time because he sold at least 15 grams of cocaine to law enforcement agents twice in the spring of this year, Jones said.

During the Tuesday traffic stop, Rojas told law enforcement officers that he sells cocaine.

Rojas also told the officers that he had additional ounces of cocaine at his home in Harvard, the motion said.

McHenry County Judge Mark Gerhardt ordered Rojas held on a $200,000 bond.

Assistant Public Defender Kim Messer filed a motion seeking the court lower Rojas’ bond, saying that he is not a danger to the community or a flight risk.

Prosecutors objected to the bond reduction but Judge David Gervais reduced Rojas’ bond to $100,000.

Rojas remains held in the McHenry County Jail as of Sunday and would need to post $10,000 cash in order to be released.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 1.

5-year-old who had to be flown to hospital after serious fall reunites with firefighters, paramedics in Woodstock

Posted: 12 Jun 2022 09:37 AM PDT

5-year-old Hollis recently met with firefighters and paramedics at Woodstock Fire-Rescue District’s station one after they responded to treat her from a fall accident in Woodstock in April. | Photo: WFRD

Firefighters and paramedics who helped a 5-year-old girl that had to be flown to the hospital after a serious fall in Woodstock were recently able to reunite with the girl.

Woodstock Fire/Rescue District Communication Specialist Alex Vucha said on Saturday that they responded on April 19 to a call of a fall.

The incident happened on a playground at a local school, Vucha said.

5-year-old Hollis recently met with firefighters and paramedics at Woodstock Fire-Rescue District’s station one after they responded to treat her from a fall accident in Woodstock in April. | Photo: WFRD

The ambulance crew quickly located 5-year-old Hollis near the swing set.

The girl was suffering from various injuries from the fall, Vucha said.

While on the way to the hospital, the girl’s quality of life began to “rapidly decline.”

Paramedics immediately requested a LifeNet medical helicopter to meet the ambulance at the hospital.

5-year-old Hollis recently met with firefighters and paramedics at Woodstock Fire-Rescue District’s station one after they responded to treat her from a fall accident in Woodstock in April. | Photo: WFRD

Hollis was flown to a level one trauma center for treatment, Vucha said.

She was met with many medical complications while in the hospital and spent several weeks recovering.

Vucha said their crews were reunited with Hollis recently. “These reunions are incredibly humbling to our members and we couldn't be prouder of her recovery. Thank you for making our day!”

"These men and their fast action, medical training, and decision making played a huge part in the outcome we are living right now,” Hollis's mother said.

Prosecutors say man intentionally hit another man with car, dragging him 500 feet in Libertyville

Posted: 12 Jun 2022 08:36 AM PDT

Kyler E. Friese, 21, of Vernon Hills.

A man is facing charges after prosecutors say he ran down another man with his car, dragging him 500 feet and injuring him, during a fight over a woman in Libertyville.

Kyler E. Friese, 21, of the 200 block of Conventry Circle in Vernon Hills, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and possession of a controlled substance.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said during a bond hearing Thursday that Friese and the victim were fighting over a girl in Libertyville.

Friese struck the victim with a car and dragged him with the car for approximately 500 feet, Katris said.

The victim had road rash on his back and bruised knuckles on one hand.

The victim told officers that he had been struck by a car driven by Friese, who fled the scene.

Libertyville police officers were able to locate Friese, stop his vehicle and arrest him.

Officers found open alcohol, cannabis and a schedule two drug without a prescription in Friese’s vehicle, Katris said.

Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak, after hearing the case, questioned why prosecutors only charged Friese with leaving the scene of an accident, a Class 4 felony.

“At least the Gerstein I got, he hit him with his car on purpose so I’m not quite sure how the state came up with those charges. But that’s neither here nor there,” Potkonjak said.

Potkonjak ordered Friese held on a $200,000 bond. Friese remains held in the Lake County Jail as of Sunday.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on June 27 for a status of preliminary hearing.

Woman charged with slashing man with boxcutter, leaving him with serious arm injury in Zion

Posted: 11 Jun 2022 05:01 PM PDT

Sureshia Cabell-McKinney, 29, of Zion | Provided Photo

Bond was set at $100,000 for a 29-year-old woman who allegedly slashed and seriously injured her neighbor’s arm with a boxcutter during an argument in Zion.

Sureshia Cabell-McKinney, 29, of Zion, was charged with aggravated battery.

Cabell-McKinney and her neighbor were involved in an argument in Zion, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kelse Banks said during a bond hearing on Tuesday.

Surveillance video showed them pushing each other when the neighbor jumped back and held his arm.

Cabell-McKinney allegedly pursued the neighbor into a parking lot while she had a silver object in her hand, Banks said.

Zion police made contact with Cabell-McKinney and heard a metal object drop to the ground.

A boxcutter was recovered near where Cabell-McKinney was standing, Banks said.

The neighbor had a deep eight-inch long laceration from his palm to the forearm and he lost a lot of blood.

A tourniquet had to be used to help control the bleeding and the victim was transported by paramedics to an area hospital, Banks added.

The victim stated Cabell-McKinney cut him with the boxcutter.

Cabell-McKinney’s lawyer asked Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak for a personal recognizance bond because she had no past felony or misdemeanor convictions.

Cabell-McKinney had active cases, including one where she was charged with battery, resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and assault, Potkonjak said.

Potkonjak set Cabell-McKinney’s bond at $100,000.

Cabell-McKinney remains held at the Lake County Jail. She is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on July 6.

6 years in prison for McHenry man who provided fentanyl-laced heroin that caused his sister’s death

Posted: 11 Jun 2022 03:20 PM PDT

Christopher Crimaldi, 45, of McHenry.

A McHenry man was sentenced Friday to six years in prison for providing heroin laced with fentanyl to his sister, causing her overdose death in McHenry.

Christopher Crimaldi, 45, of the 1900 block of North Orleans Street in McHenry, was charged with 13 counts of drug-induced homicide and three counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.

A jury in late March convicted Crimaldi on two counts of drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony, and two counts of delivery of a controlled substance.

Crimaldi obtained crack cocaine and heroin, which was laced with fentanyl, for a family member on August 31, 2018, according to prosecutors.

Police said the family member was the man’s sister, Heather Crimaldi, 45, of Freeport.

The McHenry Police Department found the woman unresponsive from a drug overdose in Christopher Crimaldi’s apartment on August 31, 2018.

Prosecutors said that Heather Crimaldi smoked the crack cocaine and snorted some of the heroin mixed with fentanyl shortly before she died.

An autopsy confirmed the woman had cocaine, heroin and fentanyl in her system.

Prosecutors said that Christopher Crimaldi had arranged for the purchase of the drugs and provided them to his sister.

A police investigation showed that Christopher Crimaldi purchased the drugs from William C. Anderson, 31, of Ingleside.

Anderson had at least four prior drug convictions, two in Lake County and two in Cook County.

Anderson pleaded guilty in March 2021 to one count of drug-induced homicide. He was sentenced to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge sentenced Crimaldi on Friday to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The sentence will be served at 75%.

Before the sentencing, Crimaldi’s doctor wrote a letter to the court saying that his patient has Hodgkin’s disease and has “limited life expectancy.”

Crimaldi, who is not currently undergoing any further treatment for his cancer, is expected to die in the next six months, his doctor said in the letter.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office’s newest canines, Axel and Echo, graduate from intense training course

Posted: 11 Jun 2022 01:50 PM PDT

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kevin Gayer and Canine Axel (left) and Deputy Tyler Girmscheid and Canine Echo (right). | Provided Photo

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said its newest canines, Axel and Echo, have graduated from an intense training course in Grayslake and will be sworn in soon.

The two canines completed their eight-week training at TOPS Kennel in Grayslake on Friday, the sheriff’s office said.

“Canines Echo, Axel, and their partners Deputy Gauer & Deputy Girmscheid are very excited to get to work! Stay-tuned for their swearing-in ceremony!” the sheriff’s office said Saturday.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Canine Axel | Provided Photo

Canines Axel and Echo join their other sheriff's canine partners Dax, Duke, Danno, Ryker and Boomer to bring the total number of Lake County sheriff's canines to seven.

The selection of the two canines’ names came after nearly 400 students in Lake County submitted name suggestions in March.

Deerfield High School Sophomore Ethan Jacobs as well as Vernon Hills Hawthorn Middle School sixth-graders Matthew Prigorenko and Carson Alper selected the name Axel.

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Canine Echo | Provided Photo

Millburn Elementary School kindergartener Charlotte Regner selected the name Echo.

All four students have been invited to participate in Echo and Axel’s swearing-in ceremony in late June, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said.

Deputy Tyler Girmscheid was partnered with Canine Echo and Deputy Kevin Gauer was partnered with Canine Axel.

The training course at TOPS Kennel consisted of canine psychology, obedience, agility, tracking, scent detection and more.

20-year-old man in critical condition after driving over 100 mph, crashing into pole in Harvard

Posted: 11 Jun 2022 12:04 PM PDT

File Photo – Harvard Fire Protection District | LMCS File

A 20-year-old man is in critical condition after police say he was driving “well over” 100 mph when his car went airborne and hit a utility pole and trees in Harvard.

The Harvard Fire Protection District and Harvard Police Department responded around 12:52 a.m. Saturday to the intersection of Lawrence Road and Oak Grove Road for a report of a single-vehicle crash with injuries.

Officers discovered a 2009 Mercedes that had left the roadway and struck a utility pole and clump of trees, according to Harvard Police Chief Tyson Bauman.

The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was a 20-year-old Delavan, Wisconsin man.

A preliminary investigation shows the Mercedes had been traveling at a rate of speed “well over” 100 mph, Bauman said.

The vehicle left the roadway and went airborne. It then struck a utility pole and a clump of trees.

One of Mercyhealth’s emergency field vehicles — called MD-1 — was called to the scene to help treat the driver.

MD-1 vehicles are staffed by residency-trained emergency medicine physicians and they can help paramedics stabilize a patient before they are transported to the hospital from a scene.

The male driver was transported by ambulance to Javon Bea Hospital Riverside in Rockford where he remains in critical condition, Bauman said.

The Northeastern McHenry County Regional Major Crash Assistance Team was activated and responded to investigate the incident.

Bauman said it appears the combination of excessive speed and alcohol were contributing factors in the crash.

No charges have been filed yet and the crash remains under investigation.

6 years in prison for Marengo man who sold cocaine while child was present

Posted: 11 Jun 2022 10:30 AM PDT

Isaac Velasquez, 32, of Marengo.

A Marengo man was sentenced on Thursday to six years in prison after pleading guilty in a case where he sold cocaine from a residence while a child was present.

Isaac Velasquez, 32, of the 600 block of East Grant Highway in Marengo, was indicted on three counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, three counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and endangering the life or health of a child.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Velasquez sold 15-100 grams of cocaine on March 3, 2021.

The complaint also said he sold 1-15 grams of cocaine on February 23, 2021, and also on March 26, 2021.

During at least one of the transactions, a 10-year-old child was present in the residence where the transaction was conducted, the complaint said.

The investigation was led by the McHenry County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Task Force.

Velasquez on Thursday pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony.

In exchange, prosecutors dismissed the additional charges against him, including a Class X felony.

McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt approved the plea deal and sentenced Velasquez to six years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

He will also be required to pay over $3,800 in court fees and fines.

McHenry County Sheriff’s Office officially launches countywide police social worker program

Posted: 11 Jun 2022 08:05 AM PDT

Left to Right: County Administrator Peter Austin, PSW Program Director Aimee’ Knop, County Chairman Michael Buehler, County Coordinator Chalen Daigle, PSW Program Clinical Supervisor Alana Bak, and Sheriff Bill Prim. | Provided Photo

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office has launched a new program with 17 local police departments to have social workers respond alongside officers to certain calls involving mental health crises.

The program was kicked off during an event at The Community Foundation for McHenry County in Crystal Lake on Tuesday.

In attendance were stakeholders, participating agencies and families of the social workers.

Speakers included McHenry County Sheriff Bill Prim, County Board Chairman Michael Buehler, Mental Health Board President Connee Meschini, McHenry County Administrator Peter Austin, McHenry County Coordinator Chalen Daigle and Police Social Work Program Director Sgt. Aimee Knop.

Multiple police social workers and a clinical supervisor are undergoing training to begin assisting police departments with mental health crises and connecting residents to resources.

Each police social worker will be assigned a grouping of participating police departments, allowing them to learn the nuances of each department and build relationships within the agencies.

Police Social Workers and Clinical Supervisor Alana Bak | Provided Photo

From there, the police social workers will work to garner resources for citizens in need and help alleviate the toll of mental health-related calls for service, the sheriff’s office said.

Knop said the police social workers have already helped make an impact during their training.

“The Police Social Work Program shows how McHenry County is getting things right. Not only does it support our local law enforcement, but it does so in a shared, collaborative and fiscally responsible way. I am proud to see this program get off the ground, and I can't wait to see the difference it will make in our community,” Buehler said.

In 2017, the sheriff's office created a police social worker program to alleviate their office’s responses to mental health-related calls for service.

This program will expand the previously created program countywide.

"Too often, law enforcement is the first contact for people in need of mental health services – people who need help," Prim said in November.

Social workers will connect residents to resources, such as direct social service providers, and conduct follow-ups with cases and clients.

At least one social worker will be available to assist officers, 24 hours a day, for a phone consultation or direct response when major mental health crises arise.

The social workers are supervised by the clinical supervisor and program director, while the program is managed by an advisory council.

Funding comes from participating police departments, the county board and the mental health board.

Participating police agencies include the Algonquin, Fox River Grove, Bull Valley, Harvard, Cary, Johnsburg, Crystal Lake, Lakewood, Marengo, McCullom Lake, McHenry County College, McHenry County Conservation District, Oakwood Hills, Richmond, Spring Grove, Wonder Lake and Woodstock police departments, in addition to the sheriff’s office.

Police say they caught Maryland man meeting up with child for sex in Libertyville

Posted: 10 Jun 2022 06:25 PM PDT

Drake Whichard, 28, of Germantown, Maryland.

A Maryland man was arrested after police said they found him last weekend in a park in Libertyville with a child he had intended to have sex with.

The Libertyville Police Department responded to a call around 11:58 a.m. on June 4 at Cook Memorial Park, 413 North Milwaukee Avenue.

Libertyville Deputy Police Chief Ed Sindles said a concerned citizen reported a female juvenile was visibly upset in the park.

Officers located the 16-year-old juvenile and determined she was meeting an adult male she had been corresponding with online.

While speaking with the juvenile, officers located the adult male in the park.

He identified himself as Drake Whichard, 28, of the 13000 block of Wisteria Drive in Germantown, Maryland.

Whichard told officers that he traveled from Maryland to meet the juvenile, Sindles said.

Officers arrested Whichard and transported him to the Libertyville Police Department where he was processed.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved felony charges of indecent solicitation of a minor and traveling to meet a minor.

Whichard appeared in bond court and was ordered held on a $150,000 bond.

He has since been released after posting $15,000 cash and is scheduled to appear in court again on July 6.

DoorDash worker flees scene after car accidentally hits customer’s garage near Grayslake

Posted: 10 Jun 2022 04:48 PM PDT

A DoorDash worker has been fired after she fled the scene when her car accidentally rolled into a garage while she was making a delivery to a home near Grayslake.

The incident occurred at a residence in the 17700 block of West Winnebago Drive in unincorporated Grayslake on Monday, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said.

A DoorDash driver arrived at around 12:25 p.m. to make a food delivery, Caitlin Aaron, the homeowner, said.

The driver pulled into the driveway, exited her car and began walking up to the front door with the food order.

When she was most of the way to the door, her car began to roll forward, Aaron said.

A DoorDash driver’s car crashed into the garage of a home in the 17700 block of West Winnebago Drive in unincorporated Grayslake and the driver fled the scene Monday afternoon. | Photo: Caitlin Aaron

The driver ran back to her car and it crashed into the garage.

She then backed her car down the driveway, dropped off the food and fled the scene without “ringing the doorbell to tell us about the accident or even to make sure nobody had been in the garage at the time of the crash,” Aaron said.

Covelli said it appeared the driver forgot to put her car in park before exiting the vehicle.

Aaron is fortunate there were no injuries because her son and his friends often play video games in the garage.

A DoorDash driver’s car crashed into the garage of a home in the 17700 block of West Winnebago Drive in unincorporated Grayslake and the driver fled the scene Monday afternoon. | Photo: Caitlin Aaron

“Time of day is the only reason there were not children sitting right where the car crashed into,” she said.

The incident was captured by the home’s Ring doorbell camera and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence to take a report.

Both the sheriff’s deputy investigating the incident and Aaron’s family reached out to DoorDash multiple times this week with minimal response.

“When we called them back on Tuesday, the day after the incident, the person we spoke to said that there hadn’t even been a record attached to that driver yet stating that an incident had occurred,” Aaron said.

A DoorDash driver’s car crashed into the garage of a home in the 17700 block of West Winnebago Drive in unincorporated Grayslake and the driver fled the scene Monday afternoon. | Photo: Caitlin Aaron

DoorDash finally responded to the sheriff’s office Friday morning, four days after the incident, and deputies were able to get the driver’s information.

“What has been reported is unfortunate and understandably frustrating,” a DoorDash spokesperson told Lake and McHenry County Scanner Friday afternoon.

“We've reached out to the customer to offer our support and connected her with our insurance carrier. We have also removed the Dasher from our platform,” the spokesperson added.

8 years in prison for man convicted of 6th DUI in crash that left child seriously injured in McHenry County

Posted: 10 Jun 2022 02:54 PM PDT

Adam C. Calloway, 36, of East Troy, Wisconsin.

A man who was driving under the influence when he caused a crash that left a child seriously injured in McHenry County has been sentenced to eight years in prison. It was his sixth DUI conviction.

Adam C. Calloway, 36, of the 3200 block of Graydon Avenue in East Troy, Wisconsin, was indicted on six counts of aggravated driving under the influence, ranging from Class X to Class 4 felonies.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded to a vehicle crash on September 14, 2018, at Coral Road and Union Road in Coral Township, which is southeast of Marengo and south of Union.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said at the time that a Ford F-150 was driving eastbound on Coral Road when it did not stop at the stop sign and crashed into the Toyota, which was driving northbound.

Calloway and a 5-year-old Marengo boy were in the Ford.

The boy had to be flown to a hospital in Rockford for treatment. A grand jury indictment said a 5-year-old boy suffered great bodily harm in the crash.

A 39-year-old Woodstock woman and a 12-month-old Woodstock girl were in the Toyota. They were both transported to a hospital.

Deputies determined that Calloway was driving the vehicle responsible for the crash.

Tests performed on blood and urine draws taken from Calloway confirmed the presence of both THC and cocaine in his system, prosecutors said.

Calloway on Friday entered a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Calloway pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated driving under the influence, a Class X felony.

McHenry County Judge Michael Coppedge approved the deal and sentenced Calloway to eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Prosecutors said Calloway had five prior driving under the influence convictions prior to the offense.

The previous convictions were in Walworth County, Wisconsin and Waukesha County, Wisconsin, court records show.

Driver transported to hospital after SUV hits Lincoln School in Mundelein

Posted: 10 Jun 2022 02:03 PM PDT

No one inside Lincoln School on Route 176 in Mundelein was injured after a car hit the building Tuesday morning. | Photo: Mundelein Fire Department

One person was transported to the hospital by ambulance after an SUV crashed into a school building in Mundelein on Tuesday, fire officials said.

The Mundelein Fire Department and Mundelein Police Department responded around 11:40 a.m. Tuesday to Lincoln Early Learning Center, 200 West Maple Avenue.

Mundelein fire officials said crews received a report of a car into a building.

A Toyota 4Runner SUV left the roadway and struck a corner of the school building.

No one inside Lincoln School on Route 176 in Mundelein was injured after a car hit the building Tuesday morning. | Photo: Mundelein Fire Department

The vehicle came to a rest next to the building in the bushes.

There were no students, staff or visitors in the specific part of the building where the crash happened, fire officials said.

The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries.

They were transported by ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville for further evaluation.

The extent of damage to the building was minor, fire officials said.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known and it is unknown if the driver was cited.

Theft suspect fleeing police runs into backyard of Waukegan home, which turned out to be off-duty officer’s home

Posted: 10 Jun 2022 11:58 AM PDT

Dominic J. Longmire, 24, of Waukegan.

Prosecutors say a theft suspect who was fleeing police ran into the backyard of a home in Waukegan, only to be arrested by the homeowner, who was an off-duty police officer.

Dominic J. Longmire, 24, a transient of Waukegan, was charged with retail theft, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting a peace officer, criminal trespass to property and disorderly conduct.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said during a bond hearing that Longmire walked into a Walgreens in Waukegan on June 2.

Longmire had a backpack with him and was observed stuffing his pockets with merchandise inside the business.

Employees asked the man to leave the store and the police were called.

An officer found Longmire down the street and a foot pursuit ensued, Katris said.

Katris said that Longmire began jumping fences to try to flee officers and ended up in the backyard of a home, which was owned by a Zion police sergeant.

The off-duty police sergeant detained Longmire until officers arrived.

Police found eyeglasses, eyelashes and shirts, which belonged to Walgreens, inside Longmire’s backpack.

Longmire admitted to stealing the merchandise, which had a total value of over $400, Katris said.

Katris said that Longmire was previously convicted this year of another retail theft.

Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak, who noted that Longmire has failed to appear in court for multiple previous cases, ordered the man held on a $25,000 bond.

Longmire remains held in the Lake County Jail and would need to post $2,500 cash in order to be released.

25-year-old killed after driving car wrong way at high rate of speed, hitting other car near Harvard

Posted: 10 Jun 2022 09:40 AM PDT

A fatal crash on Route 173 between Altenburg Road and Harvard Hills Road in unincorporated Harvard left the roadway shut down for seven hours Thursday evening into Friday morning. | Photo: HFPD

A 25-year-old man driving at a high rate of speed in the wrong lane of traffic was killed after hitting another car head-on near Harvard Thursday evening, the sheriff’s office said.

The McHenry County Sheriff's Office, Harvard Police Department Harvard Fire Protection District and Hebron-Alden-Greenwood Fire Protection District responded around 10:02 p.m. Thursday to the area of Route 173 and Altenburg Road in unincorporated Harvard.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that the crash involved two vehicles — a pickup truck and a sedan.

A preliminary investigation shows a maroon 2009 Honda Civic was traveling westbound on Route 173 west of Altenburg Road.

The Honda, driven by a 25-year-old Harvard man, was traveling westbound in the eastbound lane of traffic for unknown reasons, the sheriff’s office said.

A blue 2005 Nissan Frontier was traveling eastbound in the eastbound lane of traffic.

The Honda struck the Nissan at a high rate of speed in the 19400 block of Route 173.

The driver of the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff’s office said.

The driver of the Nissan suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by ambulance to Javon Bea Hospital Riverside in Rockford.

Route 173 between Altenburg Road and Harvard Hills Road was closed for approximately seven hours during the crash investigation.

An autopsy is in the process of being scheduled on the victim.

The incident remains under investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff's Office Major Crash Investigation Unit and the McHenry County Coroner's Office.