Lake and McHenry County Scanner |
- McHenry man charged with resisting arrest while holding 2-year-old daughter, causing baby to hit head
- 2 city employees hospitalized after being struck by fire department vehicle in Waukegan
- Man arrested after allegedly attacking pregnant niece with broken piece of scissors near Round Lake
- Man charged with child abduction after 16-year-old girl and her baby went missing from Harvard
- Motorcyclist hospitalized after crashing into sedan on Route 12 in Lakemoor
- Police warn residents to remain vigilant after reports of vehicle burglaries, stolen vehicle in Cary
- Alert issued after 16-year-old girl, her 5-month-old go missing from McHenry County
- Police tase Waukegan man who allegedly tried reaching for gun in Round Lake Park
- Missing 16-year-old girl from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin spotted in Lake County, family says
- Illinois State Police warn motorists of increase in expressway shootings due to road rage incidents
- Police seeking suspect wanted for shooting in Wisconsin, may be in northern Illinois area
- Four juveniles arrested after gunshot fired outside of Harvard restaurant
- Over $25K raised for family who ‘lost everything’ after house fire in Lake in the Hills
- 1 dead after two-vehicle crash left box truck engulfed in flames on Interstate 94 near Gurnee
- ‘She is a strong woman’: Fundraiser started for family after woman dies, juvenile injured following house fire in Antioch
- Former executive director of Grayslake Chamber of Commerce faces federal charges for allegedly stealing $300K
- 1 hospitalized after two-vehicle crash that left car rolled over in North Chicago
- 29-year-old man charged with dragging officer with his car, injuring him in Island Lake
- Officials swear in two new Gurnee police canines at ceremony
- Two children rescued from storm drain with minor injuries in Crystal Lake
- Residents displaced after fire engulfs Lake in the Hills home, damages second home
- Juvenile flown to hospital after falling onto concrete floor at Woodstock aquatic center
- Judge grants prosecutors’ request to hold Round Lake Beach triple murder suspect without bond
- Coroner identifies 33-year-old man who was fatally shot in North Chicago
- Cooling centers at 13 locations open in Lake County amid near-record high temperatures
| Posted: 24 Jun 2022 05:23 PM PDT   A McHenry man was charged after he allegedly resisted police arrest while he was holding his two-year-old daughter, causing the baby to hit her head on a door on Tuesday in McHenry. David Starke, 40, of the 5200 block of Woodrow Avenue in McHenry, was charged with two counts of domestic battery, causing a child to be endangered and resisting a peace officer. Starke on Tuesday allegedly pushed his fiancé down to the ground, according to a criminal complaint. The woman suffered bruises to her knee in the bedroom of their home. McHenry County sheriff’s deputies told Starke multiple times he was under arrest. They attempted to take Starke into custody but he allegedly tensed his body up and clenched his two-year-old daughter in his arms to resist arrest. Starke then lunged toward a butcher block and said he was going to grab a knife. In the process, his daughter’s head hit a cabinet door as he tried to evade arrest, the complaint added. Starke has a prior 2014 conviction of domestic battery, court records show. A judge set Starke’s bond at $15,000, meaning he would need to post $1,500, or 10%, to be released from custody. Starke was ordered to surrender all his firearms to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and submit to a psychological evaluation once he is released. Starke remains held at the McHenry County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court again on July 15. The post McHenry man charged with resisting arrest while holding 2-year-old daughter, causing baby to hit head appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| 2 city employees hospitalized after being struck by fire department vehicle in Waukegan Posted: 24 Jun 2022 03:15 PM PDT    Two city employees were transported to the hospital after they were hit by a fire department vehicle while walking in Waukegan Thursday afternoon. The incident happened around 3:15 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of Washington Street and Sheridan Road in Waukegan. A city-owned Dodge Durango SUV with a low-profile emergency light system was being driven by an employee of the Waukegan Fire Department, according to a statement from the City of Waukegan. The Dodge struck two pedestrians, who are City of Waukegan employees. The driver of the Dodge was attempting to turn left from eastbound Washington Street onto northbound Sheridan Road. The traffic signal for the Dodge was a green light when the vehicle turned, the statement said. The fire department employee was not responding to an emergency call at the time of the crash. The Waukegan Fire Department employee, who is a trained emergency medical technician, exited the unmarked city-owned vehicle he was driving to administer aid to the pedestrians, the statement said. The two pedestrians sustained “mild to moderate” injuries. They were transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment and have been released. The Waukegan Fire Department employee involved is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation, the statement said. The employee submitted a voluntary urine and blood draw. It is not believed that alcohol was involved. The fire department employee has 21 years of service with the department. The statement said that a preliminary investigation indicates visibility was a factor in the incident. “The vehicle was traveling from bright sunlight into a shaded area.” Officials did not say whether the two pedestrians were in the crosswalk or not. The incident remains under investigation by the Waukegan Police Major Crash Unit. The post 2 city employees hospitalized after being struck by fire department vehicle in Waukegan appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Man arrested after allegedly attacking pregnant niece with broken piece of scissors near Round Lake Posted: 24 Jun 2022 01:49 PM PDT   A judge set bond at $200,000 for a 34-year-old Beach Park man who allegedly battered and attacked his niece, who is pregnant, with a piece of broken scissors near Round Lake, prosecutors said. Jerrell Bulls, 34, of Beach Park, was charged with aggravated battery, two counts of domestic battery and aggravated assault. The Round Lake Police Department responded to an address for a report of a bleeding woman, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kelse Banks said during a bond hearing Wednesday morning. The woman, who is Bulls’ niece, knocked on her next-door neighbor’s door and stated someone had a knife. The woman used her neighbor’s phone to call 911 and told dispatch that she had been stabbed by a relative, Bulls, who fled the scene, Banks said. Officers spoke to the neighbor, who told them they heard “crashing” in the woman’s apartment before she came to the door bleeding. Officers noticed the victim had a cut on her thigh and blood on her neck, Banks said. Bulls allegedly pushed and struck his niece while she was on a bed. When Bulls left the room, his niece closed and locked the door, Banks said. Bulls later returned and allegedly kicked in the door and attacked her with a piece of broken scissors. He allegedly kicked his niece in the stomach and threatened to kill her. Bulls left when another witness came in to break up the altercation, Banks said. The victim stated she was pregnant at the time of the incident, but prosecutors were unsure how far along she was. The Round Lake Police Department arrested Bulls and Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak set his bond at $200,000. Bulls remains held at the Lake County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 20 for a preliminary hearing. The post Man arrested after allegedly attacking pregnant niece with broken piece of scissors near Round Lake appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Man charged with child abduction after 16-year-old girl and her baby went missing from Harvard Posted: 24 Jun 2022 12:03 PM PDT   A man was charged with child abduction after a 16-year-old girl and her 5-month-old son went missing from Harvard on Wednesday. The two were located unharmed in Kentucky, police said. The Harvard Police Department responded around 9 p.m. Wednesday to the 200 block of West Roosevelt Street in Harvard for a report of a missing 16-year-old, Amia Stith, and her 5-month-old son, Maverick Stith. It was reported to police that the two Harvard youths were last seen at the Harvard Diggins Library, 900 East McKinley Street, at approximately 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, Harvard Police Chief Tyson Bauman said. Police started an intensive investigation involving numerous law enforcement entities, including federal and Indiana agencies. According to an endangered missing person advisory, Amia and Maverick Stith may have been with Michael Walton, 22, in a black 2008 Buick Lucerne. They were reportedly spotted in Jeffersontown, Kentucky early Thursday morning, the alert added. At around 12:30 p.m. Friday, both Amia and Maverick Stith and Walton turned themselves into the Cynthiana, Kentucky Police Department unharmed, Bauman said. The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the charge of child abduction against Walton. Walton, who is from Linton, Indiana, is currently held in Cynthiana, Kentucky awaiting extradition to McHenry County, Bauman added. The post Man charged with child abduction after 16-year-old girl and her baby went missing from Harvard appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Motorcyclist hospitalized after crashing into sedan on Route 12 in Lakemoor Posted: 24 Jun 2022 10:10 AM PDT    A motorcyclist was hospitalized after they crashed into the back of a sedan on Route 12 in Lakemoor Thursday morning, police said. The Lakemoor Police Department and Wauconda Fire District responded around 6:40 a.m. Thursday to the area of Route 12 and Route 120 in Lakemoor for a report of a vehicle crash. Lakemoor Police Department Public Information Officer Kevin Lyons told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that a motorcycle was traveling southbound on Route 12 when it crashed into the rear of a sedan. The motorcyclist was injured and paramedics transported them to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. The motorcyclist continues to be treated in the hospital as of Thursday evening, Lyons said. Police are continuing to obtain video from businesses along the Route 12 and Route 120 corridor to determine what happened. Lyons said citations are expected once the investigation is complete. Police are thankful for the many bystanders that stopped to help both drivers involved in the crash. The crash remains under investigation by the Lakemoor Police Department. The post Motorcyclist hospitalized after crashing into sedan on Route 12 in Lakemoor appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Police warn residents to remain vigilant after reports of vehicle burglaries, stolen vehicle in Cary Posted: 24 Jun 2022 08:18 AM PDT   Police are warning residents after they received multiple reports of subjects attempting to enter motor vehicles Thursday morning in residential areas in Cary and Crystal Lake. The incidents occurred in residential areas in the northeast region of Cary as well as neighboring towns. In some cases, the subjects were able to successfully enter unlocked motor vehicles and a vehicle was stolen from a driveway of a residence in the same area, Cary Deputy Police Chief Scott Naydenoff said. That vehicle was used to commit similar crimes in Cary and in neighboring towns. The Cary Police Department reminds residents to lock their vehicles and avoid leaving valuable items in plain sight. Newer vehicles may not lock if there is a spare key inside the vehicle. No vehicle should be kept unlocked with a key inside. These are usually crimes of opportunity, Naydenoff said, and in the majority of cases, offenders will bypass a locked vehicle and attempt to find an unlocked vehicle. Residents should report suspicious activity by calling 911 and providing the location, description and direction of travel of the individual or vehicle. Residents should not attempt to confront these individuals on their own, Naydenoff added. The Crystal Lake Police Department shared a Ring video on social media which showed subjects attempting to enter locked vehicles in a driveway of a home at around 5:30 a.m. Thursday. “We remind everyone, as these residents did, please remember to lock your vehicles and remove your belongings,” Crystal Lake police said. The post Police warn residents to remain vigilant after reports of vehicle burglaries, stolen vehicle in Cary appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Alert issued after 16-year-old girl, her 5-month-old go missing from McHenry County Posted: 23 Jun 2022 05:47 PM PDT   An endangered missing person advisory was issued for a 16-year-old girl and her 5-month-old son who went missing from a residence in Harvard Wednesday and were spotted in Kentucky. The Illinois State Police activated an endangered missing person advisory for Amia Stith, 16, and her 5-month-old son, Maverick Stith. The two were seen leaving a residence at 900 East McKinley Street in Harvard around noon on Wednesday. Stith is described as a female white, 5-foot-4 and 120 pounds, according to the alert. She has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a baseball cap with a rainbow flag, a black v-neck shirt with foil flowers, black shorts and black socks. She also has a tattoo of the moon and stars on her thigh, the alert said. Maverick is described as a male white infant, 1-foot-9 and 15 pounds. The baby has no hair and brown eyes. It is unknown what he was last seen wearing. Amia and Maverick Stith may possibly be with Michael Walton, 22, in a black 2008 Buick Lucerne with Indiana license plate TNM581, the alert said. Walton is described as a male white, 5-foot-10, 180 pounds with blonde hair and brown eyes. Their last known location was in Jeffersontown, Kentucky at 3:53 a.m. Thursday, the alert added. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Amia or Maverick Stith should call the Harvard Police Department at 815-943-3341 or call 911. The post Alert issued after 16-year-old girl, her 5-month-old go missing from McHenry County appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Police tase Waukegan man who allegedly tried reaching for gun in Round Lake Park Posted: 23 Jun 2022 04:23 PM PDT   A 34-year-old man was tased when he allegedly reached for his gun after police responded to a large fight in Round Lake Park early Sunday morning. Eloy Leal, 34, of Waukegan, was charged with armed habitual criminal, unlawful possession or use of a weapon by a felon and two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. The Round Lake Park Police Department responded around 3:13 a.m. Sunday to the 100 block of East Washington Street in Round Lake Park for a report of a disturbance in progress behind a business. Round Lake Park Police Chief Daniel Burch said officers received a report of around 20 people who were fighting and possibly pointing guns at each other. Officers arrived and allegedly saw Leal placing a gun in the waistband of his pants and concealing it with his shirt. When Leal was approached by officers, he started to reach down toward his waistband, despite being told not to several times, Burch said. Officers used less-lethal force and stopped Leal from reaching for his gun. He was arrested and the pistol was recovered from Leal’s waistband. “In this case, the officer’s quick and decisive actions and use of less-lethal technologies allowed for a quick de-escalation of a potentially violent situation,” Burch said. Paramedics with the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded to evaluate Leal, who initially declined but later agreed to medical care. He was transported to Northwestern Medicine Emergency Center Grayslake for evaluation and he was later released. Leal remains held at the Lake County Jail on a $350,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 21 for a preliminary hearing. The post Police tase Waukegan man who allegedly tried reaching for gun in Round Lake Park appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Missing 16-year-old girl from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin spotted in Lake County, family says Posted: 23 Jun 2022 02:31 PM PDT    A 16-year-old girl remains missing after she ran away from her parents’ home early Saturday morning in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. She was reportedly spotted in Lake County shortly after going missing, her uncle said. Jason Camara told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that his wife’s 16-year-old niece, Fiona Daujotas, went missing from her home in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, early Saturday morning. Daujotas ran away from her parents and crossed the state border into Lake County at around 3 a.m. Saturday, Camara said. She is described as 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 and around 250 lbs. She may be going by the name “Ashton.” Daujotas reportedly went to her grandparents’ home after crossing the border near Kenosha Street and Fifth Street in Zion.  Camara’s son was staying at the house and Daujotas asked him for a ride to Waukegan after telling him she had a fight with her parents. Daujota collected supplies, like food, from her grandparents’ home before she left around 6 a.m. Saturday. Camara said Daujota shaved her head and changed her clothes. She may have gone to the Waukegan train station and may have later boarded an Amtrak train. Her exact whereabouts are currently unknown.  Pleasant Prairie Police Chief David Smetana told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that his department is continuing to work with family members and numerous other law enforcement agencies every day to locate Daujota. The incident started as a runaway child case and police are unsure what Daujota’s intentions are. The goal is to reunite Daujota with her family, Smetana said. Anyone with information on Daujota’s whereabouts should call the Pleasant Prairie Police Department at 262-694-7353. The post Missing 16-year-old girl from Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin spotted in Lake County, family says appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Illinois State Police warn motorists of increase in expressway shootings due to road rage incidents Posted: 23 Jun 2022 01:31 PM PDT   State police are warning drivers to not engage in "aggressive driving behaviors" as expressway shootings due to road rage increased from last year in Illinois. Motorists are not only at risk of crashing due to road rage but there is now the danger of being involved in a shooting on the expressway, Illinois State Police (ISP) said on Tuesday. From January to mid-June, around 35% of Chicagoland expressway shootings the state police responded to were classified as road rage incidents, a big increase from roughly 12% of shootings documented as road rage related in 2021. In one case, a motorist said he was involved in a road rage incident and his car sustained 20 bullet holes, ISP said. Motorists should recognize warning signs of aggressive driving and avoid becoming involved. Signs of aggressive driving include tailgating, cutting off other vehicles, improper lane changes, distracted driving and speeding. Victims of aggressive driving or road rage incidents should never confront the other driver. Motorists should avoid aggressive drivers and call 911 to report them. If an aggressive driver is following a motorist, they should drive to the nearest police department if possible or drive to a well-lit and populated area and call 911. “Over the past year, we’ve seen an increase in reported road rage incidents escalating into violence,” ISP Director Brendan Kelly said. “As we head into summer, high temperatures can lead to hot tempers and people losing their cool, even the dangerous or deadly use of firearms. Getting ahead or getting even with another driver is not worth the risk of a deadly crash or violence. Keep calm and stay alive,” Kelly added. The post Illinois State Police warn motorists of increase in expressway shootings due to road rage incidents appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Police seeking suspect wanted for shooting in Wisconsin, may be in northern Illinois area Posted: 23 Jun 2022 12:05 PM PDT    A 26-year-old Wisconsin shooting suspect, who is considered “armed and dangerous,” may be in the northern Illinois area, police said. Michael Shawn Boyd Jr., 26, has active felony warrants through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and warrants through the Racine Police Department for a shooting incident that occurred on May 15 in Racine, Wisconsin. Boyd is considered armed and dangerous, Racine Police Department Public Information Officer Kristi Wilcox said. He is described as a male black, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Police believe he is in the Kenosha, Wisconsin, or northern Illinois area, Wilcox said. Anyone who sees Boyd should call the police and he should not be approached. Those with information on his whereabouts should call Racine Police Investigator Rasmussen at 262-635-7774. An anonymous tip can be left by calling Crime Stoppers at 262-636-9330 or through the P3 app. The post Police seeking suspect wanted for shooting in Wisconsin, may be in northern Illinois area appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Four juveniles arrested after gunshot fired outside of Harvard restaurant Posted: 23 Jun 2022 11:16 AM PDT    Four juveniles, between the ages of 14 and 17, were arrested and charged after a gunshot was fired outside of a restaurant in Harvard Wednesday afternoon. The Harvard Police Department responded at 3:40 p.m. Wednesday to La Trinidad Restaurant, 207 South Ayer Street in Harvard, for a report of a subject who fired a handgun outside of the business. The offender reportedly fled on foot, Harvard Police Chief Tyson Bauman said. Officers arrived and quickly stopped a 2001 Dodge with four occupants in the rear parking lot of the business because one of the occupants matched the description of the offender. The four occupants, all juveniles from Harvard, were detained and a loaded handgun was located in the vehicle. The four juveniles were arrested and charged. The first juvenile, a 16-year-old male, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a weapon, and a second juvenile, a 14-year-old male, was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm. The two males were petitioned to court services and transported to the Kane County Juvenile Detention Center. The third juvenile, a 17-year-old male, was arrested on a McHenry County juvenile warrant for a previous weapons charge and was transported to the Kane County Juvenile Detention Center. The last juvenile, a 16-year-old male, was arrested and issued a citation for a no valid driver’s license. He was later released to his parents and he received a court date in late July. The post Four juveniles arrested after gunshot fired outside of Harvard restaurant appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Over $25K raised for family who ‘lost everything’ after house fire in Lake in the Hills Posted: 23 Jun 2022 10:09 AM PDT   The community has raised over $25,000 for a family who would “always be the first to help anyone in need” after their house caught on fire in Lake in the Hills Tuesday afternoon. The Huntley Fire Protection District responded around 2:20 p.m. Tuesday to the 200 block of Stickley Lane in Lake in the Hills for a report of a structure fire. Firefighters arrived and found heavy fire conditions showing from the rear of the two-story home, according to Huntley Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Patrick Fortunato. The first arriving fire crews deployed a hose line and initiated a fire attack from the rear of the home and established a water supply from a nearby fire hydrant. Crews deployed additional hose lines and entered the interior of the home and the neighboring home to prevent the fire from spreading, Fortunato said.  All occupants were able to safely evacuate the residence. Firefighters completed an additional search of the house and no other occupants were found. The main body of the fire was in the rear of the home on both floors and in the attic, Fortunato said. Firefighters quickly brought the fire under control. A neighboring home that was exposed to the heat from the fire sustained non-structural damage, Fortunato said. Firefighters then conducted an extensive overhaul to ensure the fire stopped spreading. The house sustained heavy smoke damage and two vehicles in the garage were damaged due to fire exposure.  No injuries were reported during the fire and the house had working smoke detectors, Fortunato added. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and the initial damage estimate is $375,000. The house remains uninhabitable. A GoFundMe was started Tuesday evening for the Blezien family. Samira Vigil, who is organizing the fundraiser, said the Blezien family is “one of the most caring families” in the community.  Vigil said the family “lost everything” after the fire and needs the community’s help to rebuild. Over 200 donors raised $25,000 as of Thursday morning. “The Blezien family would never ask for help, but would always be the first to help anyone in need,” Vigil said. “As a community we need to rally together to help them rebuild everything that they lost. Nothing will ever make up for the value of a loving home and all of the memories that were created there, but together we can show them how much we care and appreciate their kindness.” The post Over $25K raised for family who ‘lost everything’ after house fire in Lake in the Hills appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| 1 dead after two-vehicle crash left box truck engulfed in flames on Interstate 94 near Gurnee Posted: 23 Jun 2022 08:20 AM PDT    A driver died and another was injured after a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 94 near Gurnee that left a box truck fully engulfed in flames Wednesday evening, state police said. The Illinois State Police and Gurnee Fire Department responded around 7:39 p.m. Wednesday to Interstate 94 westbound at mile marker 10.3 in Gurnee, which is south of Route 21, for a report of a two-vehicle crash. Illinois State Police Trooper Jayme Bufford said a box truck crashed into a white SUV, causing both vehicles to hit the median.  The box truck then caught on fire and was fully engulfed in flames. The driver of the truck was pronounced dead at the scene, Bufford said. An autopsy is being scheduled by the Lake County Coroner's Office. Paramedics transported the driver of the SUV to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Further information from state police was not immediately available. The post 1 dead after two-vehicle crash left box truck engulfed in flames on Interstate 94 near Gurnee appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Posted: 22 Jun 2022 06:23 PM PDT   A fundraiser was started to help an Antioch family after a woman died and a juvenile was injured following a house fire Monday morning. Amanda Rauguth organized a GoFundMe for her mother, Melissa Muehlnickel, and her younger brother, Stephen, who were both injured after their house caught on fire in the 26300 block of West Forest Court in unincorporated Antioch. The Antioch Fire Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 9:07 a.m. Monday to the residence for a report of a structure fire. Two residents were reportedly trapped inside the home, according to Antioch Fire Chief Jon Cokefair. Firefighters searched the residence and rescued Muehlnickel. Stephen was able to evacuate the residence prior to fire department arrival with burns to his feet. The two were transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville for treatment.  Rauguth said in an update on Monday that her mother was in critical condition and 65% of her body was burned. Muehlnickel was sedated and put on a ventilator. She had brain damage due to her injuries, Rauguth said. On Tuesday, Rauguth said her father, Howard, gave the hospital permission to stop life support to Muehlnickel. Rauguth called her mother a strong woman, but said she “wouldn’t want to suffer in pain or be a vegetable so we are making this choice based on what she would want.” Stephen sustained second-degree burns and he faces “a long road of recovery.”  The community helped the family cover clothing on Monday, and Rauguth said donations will be used to help her younger brother recover, pay medical bills and organize funeral arrangements. Nearly 100 donors raised over $9,000 for the Muehlnickels as of Wednesday evening. Choppers Bar and Grill, located at 26375 Route 173 in Antioch, will take in-person donations for Rauguth’s father. Fundraising events will be planned at Choppers Bar and Grill and at Bootleggers Bar & Grill, 25491 West Old Grass Lake Road in Antioch, Rauguth said. Muehlnickel was a cook at Bootleggers. Rauguth started a new GoFundMe to help with preparations for Muehlnickel’s celebration of life, which will be held at Bootleggers on July 9 starting at 12 p.m. The event is open to the public, Rauguth said.  No firefighters were injured at Monday’s fire and investigators, including the Illinois State Fire Marshal, were called to the scene due to the severity of the injuries. The fire was extinguished in around 20 minutes, Cokefair said. The house did not appear to have working smoke detectors. Cokefair encourages residents to have working smoke detectors to provide early warning in case of fire. “We really encourage people – smoke detectors save lives. Make sure you have your smoke detectors in your house,” Cokefair said. The post ‘She is a strong woman’: Fundraiser started for family after woman dies, juvenile injured following house fire in Antioch appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Posted: 22 Jun 2022 03:38 PM PDT    A Round Lake Beach woman, who is the former executive director of the Grayslake Chamber of Commerce, was indicted by the feds for allegedly stealing at least $300,000 in funds belonging to the chamber. Karen Christian-Smith, 56, of Round Lake Beach, was indicted Wednesday on six counts of wire fraud. Christian-Smith served as the executive director for the Grayslake Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a non-profit organization, from 2006 to October 2019. The organization was created to advance commercial, industrial, professional and civic interests in the greater Grayslake area. From 2013 to 2019, Christian-Smith issued checks from the chamber’s bank accounts to herself and deposited them into her personal accounts, the indictment said. She allegedly spent the money for her own personal use and benefit, instead of spending funds to promote the purposes of the chamber. Christian-Smith submitted false and misleading financial and payroll reports to the chamber in an attempt to cover up the fraud, the indictment said. She also allegedly underreported the amount of money she fraudulently paid herself when filing tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The indictment alleges Christian-Smith fraudulently misappropriated at least $300,000 in funds belonging to the chamber. Each count of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. An arraignment for Christian-Smith at a Chicago federal court has not yet been scheduled. The post Former executive director of Grayslake Chamber of Commerce faces federal charges for allegedly stealing $300K appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| 1 hospitalized after two-vehicle crash that left car rolled over in North Chicago Posted: 22 Jun 2022 01:38 PM PDT    One person was hospitalized with minor injuries after a two-vehicle crash left one car on its side and another car with heavy damage on Route 41 in North Chicago Monday afternoon. The North Chicago Fire Department responded around 2:50 p.m. Monday to Route 41 and Bittersweet Drive in Lake Bluff for a report of a vehicle crash.  North Chicago Fire Department Battalion Chief Kim Schaefer told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that firefighters arrived to find two cars involved in a crash with one on its side. A female was reportedly trapped in the vehicle, according to fire radio traffic, but Schaefer said there all occupants were out of their vehicles when crews arrived.  One patient was transported to Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital with minor injuries. Another patient signed a refusal and was released at the scene, Schaefer said. The post 1 hospitalized after two-vehicle crash that left car rolled over in North Chicago appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| 29-year-old man charged with dragging officer with his car, injuring him in Island Lake Posted: 22 Jun 2022 11:34 AM PDT   A 29-year-old Schaumburg man was charged after he allegedly dragged a police officer half a mile using his vehicle in Island Lake earlier this month. Lanord Miles, 29, of the 800 block of South Braintree Drive in Schaumburg, was charged with manufacture and delivery between 15 and 100 grams of cocaine or analog, aggravated battery of a peace officer, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, possession between 15 and 100 grams of cocaine, driving under the influence of an intoxicating compound, driving under the influence of drugs and driving 11-14 mph above the speed limit. Miles allegedly used his vehicle to drag an Island Lake police officer southbound on Eastway Drive from Forest Drive in Island Lake on June 11, according to a criminal complaint. The vehicle dragged the officer for about half of a mile at a speed “that would cause bodily harm” to the officer if he released his grip, the complaint said. The officer sustained substantial abrasions and contusions to his arm as a result. Miles was found with one clear plastic bag that had 12 individually wrapped white rock-like substances that police suspect is crack cocaine, the complaint said. He also allegedly had two other bags that contained powder-like and rock-like substances that later field-tested positive for cocaine. Miles intended to deliver the 25 grams of cocaine he had wrapped in plastic bags, the complaint added. A judge set Miles’ bond at $200,000, and he was released on June 12 after posting $20,000, or 10%, of his bond. Miles is scheduled to appear in court on July 6 for a preliminary hearing. The post 29-year-old man charged with dragging officer with his car, injuring him in Island Lake appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Officials swear in two new Gurnee police canines at ceremony Posted: 22 Jun 2022 10:01 AM PDT    Two new Gurnee police canines were sworn in during a village board meeting Monday evening, officials said. Canine Leo, handled by Officer Tom Yencich, and Canine Hawk, handled by Officer Travis Hitzelburger, were sworn in at Monday evening’s village board meeting at the Gurnee Village Hall. The police department announced in March they were adding two new canines and Gurnee school students were asked to submit names for the dogs.  After hundreds of submissions, sixth-grade Woodland Middle School student Ivy Lindstrom won with her submission of “Hawk” and sixth-grade Viking School student Vyncen Bolados won with his submission of “Leo.” A partnership with Gurnee Mills and Six Flags Great America allowed the department to continue the canine program after their previous two canines, Bear and Hunter, retired last year, Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor said.  The department was able to adopt and train two new dogs after each organization donated to the canine program. Both canines and their handlers completed their initial eight weeks of training at TOPS Kennel in Grayslake on June 10. Gaylor said both canines and their handlers have been in service since then.  They will receive continual follow-up training through TOPS for various patrol functions, including article and building searches, narcotics detection and tracking capabilities, Gaylor said. TOPS has been training police canines at their facility for many years. There are upwards of at least 40 police canines on the street throughout Lake, Cook, McHenry and Kenosha counties trained through TOPS. The post Officials swear in two new Gurnee police canines at ceremony appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Two children rescued from storm drain with minor injuries in Crystal Lake Posted: 22 Jun 2022 08:42 AM PDT    Two children were rescued from a storm drainage system with minor injuries behind Target in Crystal Lake Tuesday evening. The Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department and Crystal Lake Police Department responded around 5:10 p.m. Tuesday to the area of Target, 5580 Northwest Highway in Crystal Lake, for a report of a rescue. Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department Battalion Chief Heidi Olsen told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that firefighters arrived and learned two children, between the ages of 10 and 13, climbed into a storm drainage pipe near a retention pond behind Target. The department said bystanders initially had phone contact with the two children but they lost contact. Firefighters worked with the Crystal Lake Police Department, Crystal Lake Public Works Department and members of the public to figure out the layout of the storm system.  Crews started opening manholes to search for the two children, Olsen said. The two were later located by Good Samaritans at a manhole cover approximately 850 feet from where the children entered the storm system. The incident commander initially requested additional resources through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS), but it was canceled once the children were rescued. Both children were pulled out with minor scratches and scrapes and paramedics transported them to a local hospital for precautionary evaluation. Olsen reminds the public that it is not safe to play or go into storm drainage systems. The post Two children rescued from storm drain with minor injuries in Crystal Lake appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Residents displaced after fire engulfs Lake in the Hills home, damages second home Posted: 21 Jun 2022 04:46 PM PDT   No injuries were reported after a fire engulfed a Lake in the Hills home and caused $375,000 in damage Tuesday afternoon. A neighboring home was also damaged. The Huntley Fire Protection District responded around 2:20 p.m. Tuesday to the 200 block of Stickley Lane in Lake in the Hills for a report of a structure fire. Firefighters arrived and found heavy fire conditions showing from the rear of the two-story home, according to Huntley Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Patrick Fortunato. The first arriving fire crews deployed a hose line and initiated a fire attack from the rear of the home and established a water supply from a nearby fire hydrant. Crews deployed additional hose lines and entered the interior of the home and the neighboring home to prevent the fire from spreading, Fortunato said. All occupants were able to safely evacuate the residence. Firefighters completed an additional search of the house and no other occupants were found. The main body of the fire was in the rear of the home on both floors and in the attic, Fortunato said. Firefighters quickly brought the fire under control. A neighboring home that was exposed to the heat from the fire sustained non-structural damage, Fortunato said. Firefighters then conducted an extensive overhaul to ensure the fire stopped spreading. The house sustained heavy smoke damage and two vehicles in the garage were damaged due to fire exposure. No injuries were reported during the fire and the house had working smoke detectors, Fortunato added. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and the initial damage estimate is $375,000. The house remains uninhabitable. The Huntley Fire Protection District was assisted by the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills, Crystal Lake, Fox River Grove, Marengo, South Elgin and Woodstock fire departments at the scene and with covering the district for other calls. The post Residents displaced after fire engulfs Lake in the Hills home, damages second home appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Juvenile flown to hospital after falling onto concrete floor at Woodstock aquatic center Posted: 21 Jun 2022 02:24 PM PDT    A juvenile was flown to the hospital with a serious head laceration after they fell off a bench onto a concrete floor at an aquatic center in Woodstock Monday afternoon. The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded at 4:19 p.m. Monday to Woodstock Water Works, 1313 Kishwaukee Valley Road, for a report of a juvenile who fell from a bench onto the concrete floor. Paramedics arrived and found the juvenile with a serious head laceration, according to Woodstock Fire/Rescue District Communication Specialist Alex Vucha.  Vucha said a Flight For Life medical helicopter was requested “out of an abundance of caution.” The juvenile was airlifted to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge for treatment, Vucha added. The fire district was not made aware of how the fall occurred. The post Juvenile flown to hospital after falling onto concrete floor at Woodstock aquatic center appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Judge grants prosecutors’ request to hold Round Lake Beach triple murder suspect without bond Posted: 21 Jun 2022 01:16 PM PDT    A Round Lake Beach man is now being held without bond Tuesday afternoon after prosecutors say he drowned his children in a bathtub and then left a note to his wife saying, “If I can’t have them, neither can you.” Jason E. Karels, 35, of the 200 block of East Camden Lane in Round Lake Beach, was charged Tuesday with three counts of first-degree murder. Round Lake Beach Police Chief Gilbert Rivera said during a press conference that officers responded to the 200 block of East Camden Lane in Round Lake Beach around 1:40 p.m. Monday for a well-being check. A mother went to the residence to pick up her three children who were with Karels, their father, for visitation for the weekend. Rivera said the mother went into the home and found her three children dead in a bedroom. Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeffery Facklam said police found a note in the house that said, “If I can’t have them neither can you,” referring to the children. Karels was still married to his wife but they were separated, police said. After Karels’ arrest, he made statements admitting to killing his three children.  He later gave a detailed statement to investigators about how he drowned each child one by one in a bathtub, Facklam said. Karels said during a bond hearing that he could not afford a lawyer and was seeking a public defender. Facklam asked Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak to order Karels held without bond. Potkonjak said he could not order that because Facklam had not filed a petition with the court asking for the no bond. Last Wednesday, Potkonjak ordered Karels held on a $10 million bond. After the bond hearing, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed the petition. A bond review was held Tuesday afternoon following the petition being filed. Potkonjak granted prosecutors’ request to hold Karels without bond.  According to Rivera, the Round Lake Beach police issued an alert to area police departments across the Chicago area following the triple murder. Illinois State Police spotted Karels’ red 2010 Nissan Maxima and attempted a traffic stop on him. Karels refused to stop and led officers on a 17-minute high-speed pursuit where he crashed into a heavily wooded area on Interstate 80 near Water Street in Joliet. Karels had to be extricated from the vehicle by firefighters. Officers wearing bodycams captured Karels admitting to killing his three kids. Rivera said that Karels had attempted suicide multiple times leading up to his arrest, including at the crime scene at his residence where investigators found a “significant amount” of blood that did not belong to his kids. Karels was hospitalized and police said last Tuesday he had been released from the hospital and transported to the Lake County Jail.  Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton said preliminary autopsies on the three victims indicate they died from drowning. Newton identified the children as Gideon Karels, age 2; Cassidy Karels, age 3; and Bryant Karels, age 5. No other substantial injuries were evident on the children, Newton said. Toxicology results are pending. Rivera said officers did not a history with Karels or the family. Investigators are also unaware of any mental illness history. Rivera did not disclose an exact motive for the killings but called it a “domestic situation.”  “We are all touched by this. This is not something you go to and are unaffected by. What they [officers] saw yesterday is something no one should have to see,” Rivera said. Lake County Board Member Dick Barr said Monday evening that the three children were “taken from this earth by unspeakable evil.” “That unspeakable evil existed in the heart and mind of the man who so heinously took the lives of three of his own children,” Barr said. “This was not a criminal act that is emblematic of who we are or where we live, rather a selfish soul, void of humanity, void of compassion, void of mental well being, who cared more about himself than he did about his own children,” Barr said.  “As heart broken as I am, I am equally angry. I’m angry that this coward is not dead while his innocent children are stacked up at the morgue and his estranged wife weeps with sorrow no human alive should ever have to endure,” he added. Barr, a Round Lake Beach resident, said he started a GoFundMe account to help raise money for the mother of the children. The fundraiser has already collected more than $60,000 in a day. Authorities said additional charges are possible against Karels, who remains held in the Lake County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court again on July 13 for a preliminary hearing. The incident remains under investigation by the Round Lake Beach Police Department. The post Judge grants prosecutors’ request to hold Round Lake Beach triple murder suspect without bond appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Coroner identifies 33-year-old man who was fatally shot in North Chicago Posted: 21 Jun 2022 12:08 PM PDT    The Lake County Coroner’s Office has identified a 33-year-old man who was shot and killed in the parking lot of a restaurant in North Chicago late Sunday evening. The North Chicago Police Department and North Chicago Fire Department responded around 11:20 p.m. Sunday to the 1100 block of 10th Street in North Chicago for a report of a shooting. Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said officers found a 33-year-old North Chicago who had been shot. The victim was in critical condition due to his injuries. Paramedics transported the man to a local hospital but he was later pronounced deceased, Covelli said.  The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the hospital. An autopsy completed on Tuesday showed Griffith Robinson Jr., 33, of North Chicago, died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek. The North Chicago Police Department requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force with the investigation. Crime scene tape was set up around the parking lot of Eleven19 Kitchen and Cocktails at Glenn Drive and 10th Street as police investigated the shooting.  Covelli said the victim was possibly targeted but investigators are still working to determine that. Police continue to develop and follow up on leads, Covelli said Tuesday afternoon. Anyone with information should contact the North Chicago Police Department at 847-596-8700, extension 8774. Those wishing to submit an anonymous tip can contact the Lake County CrimeStoppers at 847-662-2222 or visit www.lakecountycrimestoppers.com. The incident remains under investigation by North Chicago detectives and task force investigators. The post Coroner identifies 33-year-old man who was fatally shot in North Chicago appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Cooling centers at 13 locations open in Lake County amid near-record high temperatures Posted: 21 Jun 2022 09:44 AM PDT    Cooling centers are available throughout the day at 13 locations in Lake County amid near-record high temperatures on Tuesday. The summer solstice occurred earlier Tuesday morning, marking the start of summer. Near-record high temperatures in the upper 90s to around 100 degrees are expected on Tuesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. Heat-related illnesses can develop in less than 30 minutes after strenuous outdoor activity. Cooling centers at 13 locations are open throughout Lake County:
Weather officials said people should limit strenuous outdoor activities and sun exposure. Children and pets should never be left in unattended vehicles. Those outside should drink plenty of water, apply sunscreen regularly and dress in lightweight and light-colored clothing, the NWS said. A cold front is expected to move through the area Tuesday evening, which should drop temperatures and bring relief for the end of the week, the NWS added. A map for all 13 locations in Lake County with cooling centers is available here. Residents are recommended to call each facility to ensure they have available capacity and resources. The post Cooling centers at 13 locations open in Lake County amid near-record high temperatures appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
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