Lake and McHenry County Scanner |
- No injuries reported after fire quickly extinguished by firefighters in Lake in the Hills
- Over 3 years in prison for Crystal Lake man who brutally attacked wife, leaving her unconscious
- Gurnee woman charged with driving over three times legal limit after crashing into excavator in Lake Forest
- 988 line, similar to 911, launches in Illinois and rest of U.S. to help those in mental crisis
- Man arrested after person shot inside restaurant in Waukegan, prosecutors say
| No injuries reported after fire quickly extinguished by firefighters in Lake in the Hills Posted: 17 Jul 2022 06:22 PM PDT    No injuries were reported after a fire was quickly extinguished in the garage of a Lake in the Hills home late Saturday evening, fire officials said. The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District responded around 11:32 p.m. Saturday to the 900 block of Brandt Drive in Lake in the Hills for a report of a structure fire. Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District Deputy Chief John Knebl said firefighters arrived on the scene in five minutes. They found a small volume of smoke coming from a garage attached to a home. Crews made an aggressive interior attack and extinguished the fire within 15 minutes, Knebl said.  The resident of the home called 911 to report the fire and no one inside was injured. No firefighter injuries were reported either. The cause of the fire is undetermined and is still under investigation, Knebl said. The fire is being investigated by Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire District investigators and the Lake in the Hills Police Department. A damage estimate was not immediately available. The Crystal Lake Fire-Rescue Department, Fox River Grove Fire Protection District, Cary Fire Protection District, Huntley Fire Protection District and the Lake in the Hills Police Department also responded to the scene. The post No injuries reported after fire quickly extinguished by firefighters in Lake in the Hills appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Over 3 years in prison for Crystal Lake man who brutally attacked wife, leaving her unconscious Posted: 17 Jul 2022 05:21 PM PDT   A Crystal Lake man has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for an attack where he strangled his wife until she lost consciousness and struck her in the head. Thomas G. Watts, 39, of the 4000 block of Burton Trail in Crystal Lake, was charged in January 2021 with aggravated domestic battery, four counts of domestic battery and criminal damage to property over $500. A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said that Watts knelt on top of his wife and held her on the floor of their bedroom on January 10, 2021. Watts wrapped both of his hands around her neck and strangled her until she lost consciousness, the complaint said. Watts also struck the woman in the head with a glass mason jar, causing cuts and bruises to her head and face. He also caused more than $500 in damage to their home by damaging doors and walls. Prosecutors said a family member of the victim reported the attack to police because the victim was reluctant to report it. Watts entered into a negotiated plea deal with the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office on Wednesday. Court records show he pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony, in exchange for prosecutors dismissing his other charges. McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt sentenced Watts to three years and six months in the Illinois Department of Corrections. His sentence will be served at 85% based on truth-in-sentencing guidelines. “In severe cases of domestic violence where the perpetrator is using violence and fear for purposes of power and control over the victim, we will continue to seek IDOC sentences,” McHenry County State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally said. “Domestic battery is an intolerable problem we must face as a community. A community from which victims can draw the strength, empathy, and resources needed to stop the abuse and move on past its devastating emotional effects,” Kenneally said. The post Over 3 years in prison for Crystal Lake man who brutally attacked wife, leaving her unconscious appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Posted: 17 Jul 2022 03:28 PM PDT    A 61-year-old woman, who had over three times the legal limit of alcohol in her blood, was arrested after she crashed into a construction excavator on Route 41 in Lake Forest. The Lake Forest Police Department responded around 9:30 p.m. on July 5 to Route 41 and Westleigh Road for a call of a single-vehicle crash. Officers located a black Acura RDX, driven by Nada Popovic, 61, of the 4100 block of Old Grand Avenue in Gurnee, that had crashed into the center median barrier. The Acura also struck the rear of an unoccupied construction excavator. Popovic, who authorities said was “dazed, confused and unsteady on her feet,” reported that she was uninjured in the crash. Officers requested Lake Forest Fire Department paramedics to the scene to evaluate the woman. When police and paramedics spoke with Popovic, they reported smelling an odor of alcohol on her breath. Popovic denied driving the car and being involved in a crash when police spoke to her, authorities said. Popovic was transported to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Lake Forest for further evaluation. Officers completed a driving under the influence investigation which resulted in a BAC reading of 0.275 — more than three times the legal limit. Popovic was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and released on a $3,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court on August 26. The post Gurnee woman charged with driving over three times legal limit after crashing into excavator in Lake Forest appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| 988 line, similar to 911, launches in Illinois and rest of U.S. to help those in mental crisis Posted: 17 Jul 2022 02:02 PM PDT    The new 988 hotline, similar to 911, launched nationwide Saturday to make it easier for those who are suicidal or experiencing other mental crises to get help. Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, said the new 988 number is easy for people to remember. Previously, the number for the suicide and crisis line was 800-273-8255, which is still operational after the Saturday transition. Anyone experiencing suicidal, substance use and other mental health crises can reach a trained crisis counselor by calling or texting 988. The line is a free and confidential service, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “Converting to this easy-to-remember number offers the public increased access to potentially lifesaving, trained crisis counselors. State and federal funding have made it possible to increase staffing at Illinois' six existing 988 call centers to ensure that calls are answered in-state,” the Illinois governor’s office said in a statement. Gov. JB Pritzker said the expanded 988 number “will help save many lives.” “To any Illinois resident who might be struggling, know that you are not alone. We are here to support you. You can receive help by dialing or texting 988,” Pritzker said. “The Governor was clear that we needed a stronger effort to support mental health in Illinois,” said Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary Grace B. Hou. “The launch of 988 will help people across the state prevent mental health crises from escalating into emergencies,” Hou said. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young adults ages 15-34 in Illinois and the fourth leading cause of death for those ages 35-44, the governor’s office said. In addition to funding from the federal government, Pritzker said he committed nearly $15 million to bolster Illinois' statewide 988 call center. The post 988 line, similar to 911, launches in Illinois and rest of U.S. to help those in mental crisis appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
| Man arrested after person shot inside restaurant in Waukegan, prosecutors say Posted: 17 Jul 2022 11:50 AM PDT    A man was arrested after prosecutors say a gun was “accidentally discharged” inside a restaurant in Waukegan early Sunday morning, leaving a man shot. Ruben Perez-Gomez, 37, of Waukegan, was charged with reckless discharge of a firearm, a Class 4 felony, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, a Class 4 felony. Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Brooke Wanzenberg said during a bond hearing that officers with the Waukegan Police Department responded to calls of shots fired at Los Compadres de Waukegan. Officers arrived at the restaurant, located at 1614 Washington Street, around 12:45 a.m. Sunday. They found Perez-Gomez and the male victim, who were both outside waiting for the police to arrive. Officers learned that Perez-Gomez and the victim had been inside the restaurant. Wanzenberg said that Perez-Gomez told officers that an unknown man told him he had a gun with him. Perez-Gomez reportedly asked the man to hold the weapon, which he allowed him to. While Perez-Gomez was holding the gun, he accidentally discharged it, Wanzenberg said. The victim was hit in the leg by the fired round. The victim was transported by ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. Perez-Gomez, who does not have a valid Firearm Owner’s Identification card or concealed carry license, remained at the scene and was cooperative with police, Wanzenberg said. Prosecutors asked Lake County Judge Veronica O’Malley to hold Perez-Gomez on a $30,000 cash bond, while his public defender asked for him to be released on a personal recognizance bond. O’Malley, who called the incident “extremely serious” and questioned why Perez-Gomez had a gun in a restaurant, ordered him held on a $75,000 bond. A bond review hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. The post Man arrested after person shot inside restaurant in Waukegan, prosecutors say appeared first on Lake and McHenry County Scanner. |
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