Round Lake Beach Police Chief Wayne Wilde will be retiring from his post effective April 17 according to an announcement released Wednesday Round Lake Beach will swear in a new police chief at the April 21 village board meeting who has been with the Round Lake Beach Police Department for 28 years said it has been his “greatest honor to serve this outstanding community.” “I would like to thank the men and women of the Round Lake Beach Police Department for their hard work and dedication and to the (Round Lake) Fire Protection District and CenCom E911 telecommunicators keep the citizens we serve safe,” he added Wilde started with the department in 1997 as a patrol officer before being promoted to sergeant in October 2007 and later named deputy chief in December 2016 Wilde took the department’s reins after former police Chief Gil Rivera retired in July 2022 “We are deeply grateful to Wayne for his many years of dedicated service to the village of Round Lake Beach,” said Mayor Scott Nickles in a news release and incredible personality will be greatly missed at village hall We wish him all the best in whatever path he chooses next.” Wilde has served in various roles including as a field training officer and supervisor gang and juvenile officer and as the law enforcement liaison with the Lake County Health Department “A Way Out” program Wilde is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command in 2010 Police Executive Role in the 21st Century in 2015 and has a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Winona State University in Minnesota “I have many fond memories of Round Lake Beach but my fondest memory is getting to experience and be a part of the growing bond between our community and the police department throughout the years,” Wilde said Lake and McHenry County Scanner Village officials announced that the Rollins Crossing Shopping Center in Round Lake Beach has been purchased by a national firm that has plans for redevelopment of the center The Village of Round Lake Beach said Wednesday that the Rollins Crossing Shopping Center on Rollins Road near North East End Avenue has been sold to PMAT Companies a national real estate development firm based in New Orleans has invested in over two million square feet in suburban Chicago over the last 10 years PMAT Companies closed on the parcel last week and will begin development meetings with the Village of Round Lake Beach in April The parcels purchased include developments running from the vacant lot located next to Regal Theater to the eastern edge of the former Kmart store “We are genuinely excited to have PMAT come in to enhance the Rollins Crossing Shopping Center to make it more appealing to retailers and residents alike,” Round Lake Beach Mayor Scott Nickles said “We look forward to working with them on all the improvements and enhancements they plan to make,” Nickles said The Rollins Crossing Shopping Center purchase includes the outlot parcels occupied by Harbor Freight PMAT said the plans for the shopping center include renovated and updated parking lots lighting upgrades and other improvements aimed at attracting new businesses The village and PMAT say they also plan to work together to facilitate additional construction on developable land included in the purchase PMAT has over 100 transactions with an aggregate value of over $1.5 billion consisting of more than 13 million square feet across 15 states “Round Lake Beach has historically been an overlooked market despite a dense population and significant purchasing power,” said PMAT Companies President Kevin L “This market has a high potential and is prepared for significant activity We look forward to partnering with the Village of Round Lake Beach to improve the property and to bring our tenant partners to this community,” Kush said The vacant lot located between Regal Theaters and L.A Fitness in the Rolling Crossing Shopping Center is part of the purchase and due to be developed which is not included in the sale of the shopping center remains in court due to the village’s condemnation lawsuit No part of this website may be reproduced or stored in any form without written permission from Lake and McHenry County Scanner To keep you informed about the latest news across Lake and McHenry counties as it happens The new police chief in Round Lake Beach is a 25-year department veteran who rose through the ranks who began his career as a community service officer in 2000 was selected by Mayor Scott Nickles with village board approval and sworn in Monday Rodriguez succeeds Wayne Wilde who retired April 17 Rodriguez became a sworn police officer in 2002 and subsequently served as field training supervisor investigations commander and since 2022 has been deputy chief overseeing support service and operations “Round Lake Beach has been a central part of who I am for more than half my life and I’m proud to serve as its chief,” he said He has served in a variety of specialized positions including gang specialist juvenile officer and accreditation manager Rodriguez received the Round Lake Beach Life Saving Award three times as well as numerous DUI enforcement awards He graduated from the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and has a master’s degree in political science with a concentration in public administration and public policy Rodriguez said he aims to strengthen the department’s partnership with the community Nickles said Rodriguez’s experience is unmatched and commitment to the community unwavering “Ryan is a true homegrown talent who has served in nearly every aspect of policing in Round Lake Beach,” Nickles said “We’re confident the department is in great hands.” A house under renovation sustained significant damage by a fire where firefighters were hampered by water and access issues in Round Lake Beach Saturday morning The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded around 6:30 a.m Saturday to the 1200 block of North Sunset Drive in Round Lake Beach for a report of a structure fire Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Tony Carraro said firefighters arrived to find a two-story single-family home under renovation with smoke showing from the roof Firefighters initially attempted to enter the home to extinguish the fire They found holes that burned through the first and second floors from the fire in the basement The front steps and rear deck had been removed for construction Carraro said fire crews also faced a broken fire hydrant and two water main breaks The incident was upgraded to a working still alarm and then to a box alarm through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) for additional resources The fire was extinguished in approximately an hour but firefighters remained on the scene for several hours checking for hidden fires and performing salvage operations Firefighters also worked to remove smoke and limit water damage The interior of the home sustained heavy fire The home was unoccupied during the fire and there were no injuries to firefighters Lake Zurich and Lake Forest fire departments assisted at the scene and covering Round Lake fire stations The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District Round Lake Beach officials for the second time in recent weeks have announced planned redevelopments by out-of-town developers on a key commercial corridor just south of the village municipal complex has been sold to New Orleans-based PMAT Companies The purchase includes an empty lot between the former Regal Cinemas and LA Fitness and buildings to the west up to but not including the long vacant former Kmart store The sale also includes parcels on the property along Rollins Road occupied by Harbor Freight Plans for the center include renovated and updated parking lots lighting upgrades and other features designed to attract new business The real estate development and investment company has been acquiring and renovating shopping centers since 2003. According to the website PMAT has made transactions on about 14 million square feet of primarily grocery discount and fitness anchors in suburban open-air retail centers in 17 states company holdings include centers in Romeoville PMAT has relationships with Dick's Sporting Goods “Round Lake Beach has historically been an overlooked market despite a dense population and significant purchasing power,” PMAT President Kevin L “This market has a high potential and is prepared for significant activity including our planned redevelopment,” he added Specific stores for Round Lake Beach have not been announced but the company has plans for the vacant site and possibly other out lots “We're going to get one more nice-sized what they call a mini-anchor and they'll get the rest of the vacant spaces filled,” Nickles said the village announced Thakkar Developers wants to repurpose the empty Regal Cinemas to a family entertainment center one of the largest pizza chains in the Midwest announced plans to open its first suburban Chicago location just east of Rollins Crossing “It’s beautiful to know the community is getting noticed,” he said “Our goal is to bring excitement back to that (Rollins corridor) area.” which has been vacant 10 years or more on the western edge of Rollins Crossing The village has filed a condemnation suit but is hopeful the issue can be settled before it proceeds in court The village board has appointed a new police chief to serve on the Round Lake Beach Police Department following the retirement of Chief Wayne Wilde The Village of Round Lake Beach appointed Round Lake Beach Deputy Police Chief Ryan Rodriguez as the department’s new police chief Rodriguez was sworn in during the village board’s monthly meeting on Monday began his career in 2000 as a community service officer before becoming a sworn police officer in 2002 serving as a field training supervisor starting in 2012 investigations commander in 2020 and most recently deputy chief in 2022 “I am humbled by this opportunity that Mayor (Scott) Nickles and the Village Board have entrusted me with,” Rodriguez said “Round Lake Beach has been a central part of who I am for more than half of my life and I’m proud to serve as its chief,” Rodriguez said He has served as a special operations warrant service team member sexual assault investigator and accreditation manager Rodriguez has also served on the police pension board and has led officer development training within the department Rodriguez is a three-time recipient of the Round Lake Beach Life Saving Award and has received multiple DUI enforcement awards from Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) He graduated from the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the ILETSB “Police Executive Role in the 21st Century” program Rodriguez also holds a master’s degree in political science with a concentration in public administration and public policy “I have witnessed great changes over the years in our community and I look forward to continuing the path retired Chief (Wayne) Wilde has led us on,” Rodriguez said “I aim to further strengthen our department’s partnership with the community as we move forward together,” he added Round Lake Beach Mayor Scott Nickles said the village is excited to have Rodriguez at the helm of the police department “Ryan is a true homegrown talent who has served in nearly every aspect of policing in Round Lake Beach his commitment to the community is unwavering We’re confident the department is in great hands,” Nickles said Rodriguez succeeds former Police Chief Wayne Wilde who retired from the department on April 17 Is there a particular issue that motivates you what makes you the best candidate for the position I am running for office because I believe in our community’s potential and the need for leadership that truly works for the people residents feel unheard by their government I will strengthen the relationship between the community and its leaders and ensure every decision reflects the people’s will I will also focus on reducing crime and making sure every citizen feels safe in their homes and neighborhoods working to strengthen law enforcement while building trust with the community I am committed to keeping our environment clean and ensuring our streets and public spaces are well-maintained and a vision for the future — one that prioritizes progress What is the most serious issue your community will face in coming years and how should leaders respond to it One of the most serious issues Round Lake Beach will face in the coming years is the growing division within the community and the disconnect between residents and their government it’s crucial for leaders to bridge these gaps and foster unity it creates an environment of mistrust that hinders progress Leaders must focus on increasing transparency and creating opportunities for open dialogue This will improve relationships between the government and its citizens How would you describe the state of your community's finances What should be the top priorities for spending during the next few years Are there areas of spending that need to be curtailed The state of Round Lake Beach’s finances will require careful attention in the coming years With growth in both population and infrastructure needs it’s important to ensure we’re investing in long-term solutions while maintaining fiscal responsibility The top priorities for spending should focus on public safety with investments in community-driven programs that reduce crime and enhance neighborhood security What do you see as the most important infrastructure project you must address what project(s) can be put on the back burner The most important infrastructure project that needs to be addressed in Round Lake Beach is the improvement of our transportation network traffic congestion and deteriorating road conditions can lead to safety hazards and a decrease in overall quality of life for residents and equipped for future traffic demands should be a top priority Investing in this infrastructure will not only improve safety but also support the local economy by making it easier for businesses and residents to move around a mix of options such as utilizing local tax revenue pursuing grants for smaller-scale infrastructure projects and perhaps collaborating with the county or state for matching funds could help finance the necessary work Nonessential beautification projects or large-scale public event expansions could be put on the back burner they should not take priority over critical infrastructure needs that directly affect the daily lives and safety of our community Describe your leadership style and explain how you think it will be effective in producing effective actions and decisions with your village board especially the village board to ensure that all voices are heard and that decisions are made collectively I’m a firm believer that leadership isn’t about making decisions alone but about bringing together different perspectives and creating solutions that benefit everyone so that all members of the board feel comfortable sharing their insights and concerns and residents can trust that their needs are being considered When leaders work together in a transparent and respectful manner they can come to decisions that reflect the community's values and priorities What’s one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet One idea I have to better the community that isn’t being talked about yet is prioritizing the unification of Round Lake Beach and Round Lake (the Round Lake Communities) These communities share many common interests and face similar challenges By fostering stronger collaboration and partnership among these areas we can create a more cohesive region that works together to solve problems and improve the quality of life for all residents This unification could involve joint projects for local infrastructure improvements A unified approach would enhance our collective voice in discussions with county and state officials Strengthening connections between these communities could bring more attention to the region and create more opportunities for growth and development that benefit everyone more vibrant region that’s greater than the sum of its parts Round Lake Beach officials have announced a vacant Rollins Road movie theater will be transformed into a new family entertainment center featuring movie screens The indoor Go-Kart track will be multi-level and use electric vehicles is expected to submit final plans for the development in summer 2025 “We are thrilled with the plans we have seen already by the developer,” said Round Lake Beach Mayor Scott Nickles it will offer something for everyone and truly be a major draw for Round Lake Beach attracting not only residents from our village but visitors from across Lake and McHenry counties,” Nickles said The movie theater has been closed since January 2023 due to Regal Cinemas’ bankruptcy and subsequent closure of 39 locations nationwide “This new project will not only create local job opportunities but it will also position Round Lake Beach as a go-to destination for families throughout Lake County,” said Gil Rivera Economic Development director for the Village of Round Lake Beach Round Lake Beach officials recently toured the concept in Texas the entertainment hub will join existing community partners in providing retail and family-friendly entertainment venues in the community along with the addition of new restaurants currently in development is a continuation of the Mayor and Board’s vision of enhancing our already vibrant retail and entertainment corridor,” said Gil Rivera The shuttered theater has been a target for past vandals Police officers and firefighters responding to a fire alarm discovered fire damage in April 2024 Prosecutors said two theaters of the vacant building were engulfed in flames during the arson and the lobby was destroyed with damage estimates to be $100,000 at the least A Texas-based developer wants to repurpose the empty fire-scarred Regal Cinemas in Round Lake Beach to a family entertainment center The proposal by Thakkar Developers of McKinney games and other activities at the former theater Regal in Round Lake Beach was among 39 U.S locations closed in early 2023 by parent company Cineworld Group Thakkar bought the freestanding theater in the Rollins Crossing shopping center at auction the village's economic development director “We spoke to them immediately after they won the auction,” Rivera said “We're very pleased with the new owners and they're very receptive.” The company was attracted to the village due to a combination of factors including a strong market analysis village support of the concept and proximity to other customer generating attractions Thakkar acquired the theater at the end of 2023 but plans were delayed and construction plans revised because of an arson fire in April 2024 that severely damaged parts of the building the 72,000-square-foot entertainment center also would feature ax throwing space for meetings and parties and potentially a multilevel indoor electric Go-Kart track Final plans were expected to be submitted this summer with an anticipated grand opening in 2026 attracting not only residents from our village but visitors from across Lake and McHenry counties,” Mayor Scott Nickles said Thakkar has major ongoing developments in Dallas including single and multifamily homes this project is Thakkar’s second family entertainment center concept and will be modeled after one under construction in a former theater in Irving Round Lake Beach officials toured that facility and were said to be impressed by the concept and potential for success Rivera said this project with the addition of new restaurants in development is a continuation of the village’s vision to enhance an “already vibrant retail and entertainment corridor.” The Round Lake Beach police chief has announced he will be retiring this week following 28 years of service with the department with the mayor saying the chief will be “greatly missed.” Round Lake Beach Police Chief Wayne Wilde announced Wednesday he will be retiring on Thursday said it has been his “greatest honor to serve this outstanding community.” “I would like to thank the men and women of the Round Lake Beach Police Department for their hard work and dedication and to the RL Fire Protection District and CenCom E911 telecommunicators keep the citizens we serve safe,” Wilde said Wilde was hired in 1997 as a patrol officer before being promoted to sergeant in October 2007 He was promoted to commander in October 2014 and then named deputy chief in December 2016 Wilde was named chief of police after former chief Gil Rivera retired from the position in July 2022 “We are deeply grateful to Wayne for his many years of dedicated service to the Village of Round Lake Beach,” Round Lake Beach Mayor Scott Nickles said and incredible personality will be greatly missed at Village Hall We wish him all the best in whatever path he chooses next,” Nickles said Wilde was tapped to serve as the field training officer juvenile officer and as the law enforcement liaison with the Lake County Health Department “A Way Out” program A new police chief has not been announced yet by the village Police are warning residents in the Round Lake Beach area after fake flyers were placed on doors seeking access to inspect people’s homes The Round Lake Beach Police Department said Thursday that they are investigating a suspicious incident Police said a solicitor-type door hanger was distributed it has no association with the Village of Round Lake Beach’s water department The door hanger lists “Water Testing Center” at the bottom which is not a real company or government agency The Village of Round Lake Beach has not received any solicitor permit registration for anything similar to it The door hanger says “Water control inspection Sorry we missed you” and lists the family’s name and house address The door hanger asks that the resident call a number associated with an 855 area code within the next three days Police said they called the phone number but the call was ended once the police department identified themselves as officers It is unclear what the motive behind the door hangers are but police in Lake County routinely remind the public to be aware of ruse burglaries Ruse burglaries are crimes in which an offender or offenders use a ruse to distract the victim in order to gain access to a home and burglarize it Police say residents should not allow anyone in their home unless they know them personally or it is a scheduled appointment A 31-year-old Round Lake Beach man was charged with reckless homicide and DUI after the car he was driving crashed into a house on Christmas Eve The Lake County sheriff’s office said officers responding to the crash at about 7:25 p.m Tuesday near Lake Villa found driver Marcos Corona-Vargas and a backseat passenger seriously injured and a front-seat passenger Corona-Vargas and the other passenger were taken to the hospital The Lake County sheriff’s department said witnesses reported that a Jeep was driving east on West Engle Drive in unincorporated Lake Villa before crossing into the westbound lane and then back to the eastbound the Jeep drove off the roadway and into a yard before crashing into a home but authorities said the house sustained major damage Authorities said Corona-Vargas was driving under the influence of alcohol when the crash occurred he will be transported to the Lake County jail The FBI is offering a reward as they seek help in locating a male suspect who is wanted for robbing a bank inside a grocery store in Round Lake Beach The FBI Chicago Field Office said they are seeking help in locating a suspect who committed a robbery around 5:35 p.m Bank in the Meijer grocery store at 750 East Rollins Road in Round Lake Beach a tan coat with a dark-colored shirt underneath having a light complexion and being approximately 5-foot-10 The suspect should be considered armed and dangerous Authorities did not say how much money the suspect stole during the robbery or if any injuries were reported The FBI said they are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect Anyone with information regarding the bank robbery is asked to contact the FBI Chicago Field Office at 312-421-6700 Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov or at the nearest American Embassy or Consulate will be opening its first suburban Chicago location in Round Lake Beach Rollins Road adjacent to the Meijer parking lot and behind McDonald’s and Arby’s in the Mallard Creek shopping center Founded in 1981 with its first location in Hull the chain has more than 210 restaurants in 14 states It’s known for its all you can eat “Buffet Your Way” concept featuring a selection of pizzas Locations are considered family destinations with a variety of specials and also feature a FunZone Arcade with games for adults and kids The Round Lake Beach Pizza Ranch will be the ninth in Illinois It’s planned for 8,000 square feet with seating for 200 and private party rooms available by reservation 2,400 square feet is slotted for the FunZone Arcade It will feature the newest architectural design with an updated lighting package Oestmann is part of Grassroots Management LLC which owns and operates 36 — soon to be 40 — Pizza Ranches Pizza Ranches are in southern and western Illinois and include sites in Springfield Roscoe near Rockford and Shorewood near Joliet We’re used to building in Iowa and Wisconsin,” Oestmann said Grass Roots is expanding its holdings but the decision to locate in Round Lake Beach was prompted after a weekend getaway road trip with family by Mayor Scott Nickles Nickles said they stopped at a Pizza Ranch in the Wisconsin Dells area and “the kids loved it.” The family stopped at another Pizza Ranch in Elkhorn on the way home and Nickles spoke with the manager ‘We’d love to have something like this in our town the company contacted the village and were shown several properties that were for sale the property owner had a letter of intent and the process began “There’s a huge demographic in Round Lake Beach,” Oestmann said it would take about a year to get to the groundbreaking stage Oestmann said due to an extended process of finalizing construction bids and completing the design Pizza Ranch does not serve alcohol and has a Christian-based philosophy of giving back to communities “They're ecstatic about being in town,” Nickles said “This will truly bring people from all around.” The location also will contribute to village plans to create a restaurant/retail/entertainment area Officials say a suspect was captured while trying to leave the country while being wanted for sexually assaulting a family member following a Thanksgiving gathering in Round Lake Beach Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kathy Laughlin said the Round Lake Beach Police Department responded to a report of a sexual assault victim who was at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville The victim reported she was at her aunt’s house on Thanksgiving Day for a family celebration handed the victim her first drink of the night The victim continued to drink throughout the night and she went to check on her young son who was in the basement She felt sick at that point and went to the bathroom One of the woman’s cousins went to the basement to help the victim The cousin and someone else helped carry the victim to the couch where she fell asleep The victim reported she remembered opening her eyes and saw someone on top of her under a blanket She initially thought it was her young son jumping on top of her Laughlin said the woman then woke up again to hear one of her family members yelling The victim heard pants buttoning up and learned Torres was on top of her after the family member yelled at the man She was naked from the waist down but told officers she had been fully clothed before going to sleep felt the room spinning and fell back asleep after getting dressed She underwent a sexual assault exam which showed she suffered an internal injury Officers reviewed the victim’s phone and found two messages from Torres would not be drinking again and that he was moving to Texas Laughlin said Torres also later told the family member who caught him that it was a “mistake” what had happened Torres was charged with attempted criminal sexual assault An arrest warrant was issued for him on December 6 Investigators learned that Torres bought tickets to Mexico and had planned to leave within a few days Police arrested Torres just after midnight on December 7 at O’Hare International Airport The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Torres pending trial arguing he poses a threat to the community and is a willful flight risk Prosecutors called him an “untreated sex offender” who took advantage of a victim who was unable to give consent Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition following a detention hearing on Tuesday is set to appear in court again on January 9 The Round Lake Beach Cultural & Civic Center and the village of Round Lake Beach have announced the annual Elote Festival starting Friday The family festival will take place on the Round Lake Beach Village Grounds at 2007 Civic Center Way and will feature a variety of food trucks but additional costs are associated with rides Parking for the event is available at the Round Lake Beach Metra Station at 680 Civic Center Way Entertainment will be provided on all three nights Friday night will feature the Elote Queen Pageant at 6 p.m Saturday the lineup includes Nanucos at 3 p.m. the Round Lake Area High School Band at 8 p.m Sunday’s highlights are Banda La Enkantadora at 3 p.m. with the EloteFest Musical Light Drone Show to close out the fest at 8 p.m or check the event listing on Facebook at RLBCC Events take place on the Round Lake Beach Village Grounds at 2007 Civic Center Way Dance Lessons with Ivan Flores Latino Expressions The FBI and detectives arrested two brothers on Wednesday and charged them with murder in connection with the fatal shooting and robbery of a 17-year-old boy in Round Lake were both charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery The two suspects were arrested Wednesday morning after law enforcement converged on a residence in the 800 block of Richard Brown Boulevard in Volo Members of the FBI’s Violent Crime and Fugitive Task Force along with the Round Lake Police Department made the arrests Round Lake Police Chief Dave Prus said Demarion Gibert and Damone Gibert are both brothers The 17-year-old is being charged as an adult The two previously resided in Round Lake Beach and recently moved to the home on Richard Brown Boulevard in Volo where they were arrested The charges against the two stem from a shooting and armed robbery that occurred on the evening of October 4 Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said at the time that officers in the Round Lake area began a search around 8:20 p.m that evening after receiving a 911 call from a cellphone A Round Lake Beach police officer located a black Mercedes at the Citgo gas station on the corner of Cedar Lake Road and Rollins Road in Round Lake Beach Officers saw the Mercedes had been damaged by gunfire and found Chad Greenenwald The boy was not breathing and officers began performing CPR after calling for the fire department Greenenwald was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he was pronounced dead An autopsy showed Greenenwald died as a result of a gunshot wound to the chest according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek Covelli said a further investigation showed Greenenwald was a passenger in the vehicle that sustained the gunshot damage It was determined the shooting occurred in the area of Midland Drive and Sycamore Drive in Round Lake along with Greenenwald and a third occupant approached the group in the parked Mercedes Prus said indications pointed to the meetup being drug-related Multiple shots were fired at the car and Greenenwald was struck by the gunfire The suspects stole personal property from the victims and fled the scene The driver of the Mercedes drove to the Round Lake Beach gas station where officers located the vehicle and Greenenwald The Round Lake Police Department and Lake County Major Crime Task Force began the more than one-year investigation into the homicide The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office FBI and Round Lake Park Police Department assisted “The thoroughness and dedication of the Round Lake Detectives led to the development of two suspects,” Prus said Wednesday Greenenwald’s aunt Toni Barycki said at the time of the boy’s death that the family’s hearts “literally feel broken.” From the tiny baby who couldn’t wait to be born and came to his own baby shower to the amazing young man who spent his last summer working so hard,” Barycki said “You will always be the big hearted young man who loves deeply and didn’t have enough time to do all the amazing things I know you would have done,” Barycki said “The tragic and sudden loss of Chad has left us with no words to express our sorrow,” she added Arrest warrants charging the Gibert brothers were obtained before the two were taken into custody on Wednesday Demarion Gibert and Damone Gibert are both set to make initial court appearances on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning A 72-year-old man died from burn injuries he suffered when his oxygen tank ignited while he was smoking at an assisted living center in Round Lake Beach on November 16 at Oak Hill Supportive Living The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded to the assisted living facility after receiving an activated fire alarm An incident report said firefighters arrived and found the source of the alarm to be one of the rooms on the second floor They encountered light smoke in the hallway while being directed to the room by staff Firefighters found an injured man and called for an ambulance The fire was out prior to the fire department’s arrival but fire crews used water on the carpeted floor The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said Brian Swanson suffered the burn injuries after his home oxygen device ignited The ignition occurred while Swanson was smoking Swanson was transported to a local hospital and later transferred to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood which is a hospital that has a burn center Swanson died from complications of his thermal injuries on Friday morning The medical examiner’s office ruled his death an accident Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District Fire Chief Greg Formica said Monday he was saddened to learn that the man had died 2024 at 9:31 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The arrests in this report were made between Dec IL — The following information comes from the Lake County Sheriff's Office and court records as a record of police activity including incidents reported by the public and those arrested by police Criminal charges represent accusations by the state and are often dropped or reduced Updated information may be available from the Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court Every person arrested is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law had a warrant for possession of a controlled substance He was being detained at the Lake County Jail at the time of the report LAST WEEK'S BLOTTER: Man Arrested For Counterfeiting Warrant — Lake County Sheriff's Blotter is accused of unlawful possession of a firearm unlawful possession of a controlled substance 27 at Country Walk Drive and Pheasant Ridge Court He was released and assigned a court date of Jan is accused of battery and was arrested Dec is accused of criminal trespass to residence had a warrant out of Will County for retail theft A future court date in Will County was to be determined at the time of the report Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. is accused of leading police on a high-speed chase before being arrested and found with a loaded gun and drugs was charged with aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number and possession of methamphetamine An unmarked Oak Brook police squad attempted a traffic stop on a black Ford Explorer near 22nd Street and Midwest Road in Oak Brook around 3:20 p.m The Ford committed an improper lane change and had a tinted windshield Prosecutors said the driver of the vehicle did not stop after officers activated their emergency lights and sirens The Ford disobeyed the stop sign at Midwest Road and Comar entered southbound traffic on Midwest Road and then entered the parking lot of a gas station Poblete Lopez drove out of the gas station westbound on 22nd Street and ultimately made his way to eastbound Interstate 88 Prosecutors said Poblete Lopez continued to flee from police onto eastbound Interstate 290 where he exited the highway at Manheim Road southbound Poblete Lopez traveled to westbound Roosevelt Road where he exited the vehicle near Roosevelt Road and Euclid Avenue in Oak Park and fled on foot He was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit Prosecutors said Poblete Lopez reached speeds of approximately 81 mph in a 45-mph zone prior to entering the expressway and speeds of approximately 91 mph after getting onto the expressway Poblete Lopez was in possession of approximately 24.2 grams of methamphetamine which he threw away during the foot pursuit Officers located a loaded 9mm Sig Sauer handgun with a fully loaded magazine and defaced serial number while searching the man’s car Poblete Lopez fled from police at a high rate of speed on an extremely busy road in the midst of the holiday shopping season are outrageous,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said a defendant who thought they could outrun law enforcement found out that in DuPage County law enforcement is well trained and prepared to safely apprehend those who would flee instead of pulling over Poblete Lopez’s alleged actions did not cause injury to any innocent pedestrians or motorists,” Berlin said “I thank the Oak Brook Police Department for their work on this case and for their ongoing efforts in keeping our roads safe particularly now during the busy holiday season I also thank Assistant State’s Attorneys Sean Kinsella and Nicholas Covert for their efforts in preparing charges against Mr DuPage County Judge Joshua Dieden granted a motion to detain Poblete Lopez pending trial a dangerous armed felon found out that if you come to Oak Brook with bad intentions and the belief that you can flee from the police without consequence you are wrong,” Oak Brook Chief of Police Brian Strockis said “Our officers are steadfast in our efforts to keep this community safe I’d like to thank all of the law enforcement agencies that assisted us with this arrest I’d also like to thank State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his team for their assistance and guidance on this case,” Strockis said Poblete Lopez is set to appear in court again on December 23 for an arraignment hearing In December 2019, Poblete Lopez was arrested following a seven-hour standoff in Round Lake involving dozens of police officers and a SWAT team that came to an end after the man The Round Lake Beach Police Department announced that a police commander who served over 21 years with the department The Round Lake Beach Police Department said Commander Christopher Cordes died suddenly at his home Sunday afternoon “His commitment and dedication to this community will never be forgotten Please keep his family and members of our department in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” Police Chief Wayne Wilde Jr The Lake County Coroner’s Office said Cordes was 56 years old and an Antioch resident He was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he was pronounced dead just after 2 p.m The coroner’s office said Cordes’ death was attributed to significant medical issues Cordes joined the Round Lake Beach Police Department on April 28 Cordes served as a patrol shift supervisor task force officer with the FBI-Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force special operations warrant service team member Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) coordinator and taser Wilde said Cordes received numerous department commendations Officer of the Year in 2021 and a lifesaving award An obituary said Cordes was a “caring family man” who loved playing with his dogs and treasured his grandchildren along with a number of other family members A visitation is scheduled for Thursday followed by funeral services on Friday at Strang Funeral Home of Antioch A woman is recovering and has been moved out of the ICU after she was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle in Round Lake Beach and left in serious condition last weekend The Round Lake Beach Police Department and Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded around 7:50 p.m Saturday to the area of Rollins Road and Oak Avenue for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle Police said a 45-year-old woman was attempting to cross Rollins Road near the Advance Auto Parts She was struck by an unknown vehicle that was traveling eastbound on Rollins Road The vehicle did not stop after the crash and fled the area was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville Her mother told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that she suffered a brain bleed and was in the intensive care unit The woman was stabilized and her condition began improving throughout the week Doctors moved the woman out of the intensive care unit on Thursday The woman’s mother said her daughter was awake and talking The mother also said police have been working hard on the case as the search continues for the suspect Anyone with information that could be helpful in the investigation is asked to contact the Round Lake Beach Police Department at 847-546-2127 Prosecutors say two men participated in a shootout that resulted in homes being struck by gunfire following a fight involving two women in Round Lake Beach The Round Lake Beach Police Department and Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District responded around 8:55 p.m on February 14 to the 1300 block of Melrose Avenue for a report of a shooting One 911 caller reported someone had been shot Police officials said officers arrived and searched the area but did not find any victims who had been struck by gunfire Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Vukovich said a woman was found with blood coming down her face Officers also contacted local hospitals to see if any gunshot victims showed up for treatment Vukovich said the injured woman reported Terrence P showed up at their home to pick up their child The woman reported an argument ensued and Winslow started shooting at the house with a handgun Video footage was recovered and a child was interviewed by officers as part of their investigation Vukovich said the video showed an adult male The man was seen going into a parked Jeep and retrieving a gun Vukovich said a child witness reported Winslow got into a fight with Coleman and it was “like a war.” The woman and Terrence’s mother got into a physical fight Winslow pulled out a gun and pointed it at the female victim while she and his mother were fighting Vukovich said Coleman pulled out a gun and Winslow began shooting Officers recovered several shell casings on the ground at the scene from two guns Winslow was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm felon in possession of a firearm and reckless discharge of a firearm Coleman was charged with felon in possession of a firearm Both men were charged two days after the incident Warrants were issued and Coleman was taken into custody late last month He remains held in the Lake County Jail pending trial State records show Winslow is currently considered “wanted – armed and dangerous” and is listed as a parolee absconder Winslow was released from the Illinois Department of Corrections just months prior to the shooting The sentence was for a conviction that stemmed from a violent home invasion in Zion in May 2013 where Winslow and two others forced their way into a house while claiming to be the police demanded money and drugs before violently attacking one of the occupants of the home A woman was sentenced to electronic home monitoring after pleading guilty to arson for intentionally setting a vehicle on fire The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District and Round Lake Beach Police Department responded around 12:21 a.m on June 22 to the 1600 block of Grove Drive in Round Lake Beach for a report of a vehicle fire The response was soon upgraded to a possible structure fire while fire crews were still responding prompting the response of additional fire departments Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Lillian Lewis said at the time that Martinez was the one who called 911 to report the fire which involved her neighbor’s vehicle Surveillance video showed Martinez pouring some kind of liquid on the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado and then setting it on fire Martinez admitted to pouring lighter fluid on the victim’s car and starting the fire Officers learned Martinez and the owner of the vehicle had been seeing each other The two got into a verbal argument over the relationship before the arson was committed Martinez was charged with one count of arson Martinez was ordered held in the Lake County Jail pending trial following her arrest Court records show she pleaded guilty to the charge against her in September as part of a negotiated plea deal A judge sentenced Martinez to 36 months of probation and 200 hours of public service pursuant to the plea She was also sentenced to 18 months of periodic imprisonment Due to staffing issues at the Lake County Jail Martinez will be on electronic home monitoring and not be held periodically in jail for the sentence Martinez was also ordered to not consume alcohol drugs or cannabis during her probation and have no contact with the victim A suspect in this week’s fatal shooting of a 15-year-old Round Lake Beach girl in her home has been arrested The suspect is a man who lives a couple blocks from where Valeria Rodriguez was shot Wednesday night spokesman for the Lake County Major Crime Task Force The suspect was taken into custody after police found a semiautomatic handgun during a search of his home early Friday morning He already was being questioned by police during the search A ballistics test that could indicate if the deadly bullet came from the gun police recovered is expected today an incoming sophomore at Round Lake High School Wednesday while sitting at a dining table in her home on Cherokee Drive The bullet that killed Rodriguez was fired outside near the home and went through a window before striking her Authorities don’t believe Rodriguez was targeted Round Lake Beach police and the task force are investigating An online fundraiser has been created to help Rodriguez’s family cover her funeral expenses. As of Friday afternoon, more than $7,000 had been donated through the GoFundMe platform. Learn more at shorturl.at/5LKy4 • Daily Herald Senior Writer Mick Zawislak contributed to this report A Round Lake Beach man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a young girl which prosecutors said was over the span of several years was charged in December 2022 with eight counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kelse Banks said a child disclosed information to her counselor in early December 2022 about being sexually assaulted An interview was then conducted at the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center had sexually assaulted her since she was eight years old The most recent occurrence happened on December 11 when Mora came into the girl’s room while she was on her bed who tried to stop the man but he continued The child provided a detailed description to investigators of what had occurred The victim had also detailed previous recent nights where similar actions occurred Mora admitted to detectives that he had gone into the child’s room on December 11 The case was investigated by the Round Lake Beach Police Department and a judge ordered Mora held on a $1 million bond Court records show Mora entered into a negotiated plea deal with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office last month He pleaded guilty to one count of predatory criminal sexual assault in exchange for a 16-year and 6-month sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) He will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release and will receive 731 days of credit for time spent in the Lake County Jail awaiting trial IDOC records show he is projected to be paroled in December 2036 A judge denied pre-trial release to two brothers charged after prosecutors say multiple gunmen surrounded a car robbed the occupants and fatally shot a 17-year-old boy in Round Lake Round Lake Police Chief David Prus said Demarion Gibert and Damone Gibert are both brothers Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeffrey Facklam said Chad Greenenwald and two others went to the area of Diamond Jubilee Park near Midland Drive and Sycamore Drive in Round Lake on the evening of October 4 The three were in a black Mercedes and had arranged a pre-planned meetup with others approached the car on foot and surrounded the Mercedes Facklam said at least three suspects were armed with guns and immediately demanded money and property from the victims At least two gunmen opened fire and one of the suspects shot Greenenwald leaving him with a gunshot wound to the chest The Mercedes and the suspects both fled the area after approximately five shots were fired Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said officers in the Round Lake area began a search around 8:20 p.m A Round Lake Beach police officer located the black Mercedes at the Citgo gas station on the corner of Cedar Lake Road and Rollins Road in Round Lake Beach Officers saw the Mercedes had been damaged by gunfire and they found Greenenwald critically injured The Round Lake Police Department and Lake County Major Crime Task Force began a more than one-year investigation into the incident Facklam said one of the victims of the Mercedes was interviewed and recognized the Gibert brothers as being involved The victim only knew of them from school but did not know their names The victim provided police with their social media accounts Demarion Gibert and Damone Gibert were with two others in June when they led the Skokie Police Department on a multi-jurisdiction chase The four fled from the stolen car and Demarion Gibert and Damone Gibert were both arrested Facklam said both brothers had backpacks in their possession and the backpacks each had two guns in them One of the guns from Demarion Gibert’s backpack and one of the guns from Damone Gibert’s backpack were linked to the Round Lake homicide and robbery Investigators also found messages with a significant other of Demarion Gibert where he mentioned committing a robbery with his brother Demarion Gibert also told the female he loves her in case he goes to jail Facklam said Demarion Gibert also had messages on his phone about what was stolen from the Round Lake homicide and robbery for an unlawful possession of a firearm case out of Schaumburg Arrest warrants charging the Gibert brothers were obtained in December and the two were taken into custody on Wednesday Facklam said Damone Gibert admitted following his arrest that he was in the park at the time of the Round Lake homicide and robbery He also admitted there was a robbery to investigators but he minimized his role in the incident Demarion Gibert and Damone Gibert appeared on Friday afternoon for detention hearings after the state’s attorney’s office filed petitions to detain them Lake County Judge James Newman granted both of the petitions and remanded the Gibert brothers held in custody pending trial Damone Gibert is being held in Hulse Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills and Demarion Gibert is being held in the Lake County Jail in Waukegan Greenenwald’s aunt Toni Barycki said at the time of Greenenwald’s death that the family’s hearts “literally feel broken.” The Gibert brothers are scheduled to appear in court again on February 5 for a preliminary hearing Prosecutors say a man was found with over 70 inappropriate videos of random women in public after he was arrested for recording a woman while she was in a changing room at a Round Lake Beach store The Round Lake Beach Police Department responded on August 13 to the Goodwill Store and Donation Center Officers spoke to a woman who reported that a man according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Vukovich The victim went to the changing room and Merida-Viana went into the changing room next to her The woman took her shirt off and then noticed a shadow so she covered her top She saw Merida-Viana’s cell phone under the changing room stall Vukovich said Merida-Viana ran out of the stall and exited the store The woman positively identified Merida-Viana as the suspect He told officers he was at the store to buy pants Merida-Viana left the store with the pants and did not pay for them He also gave consent to officers to search his cell phone Officers found videos on the phone of the woman Vukovich said Merida-Viana also had approximately 75 other videos where he was in retail stores walking through aisles recording upskirt videos of strangers Merida-Viana appeared in First Appearance Court and was released after prosecutors informed the court that the charges were non-detainable under the Illinois SAFE-T Act Lake County Judge Ari Fisz said he “unfortunately” had to release Merida-Viana and placed the man on pre-trial conditions Merida-Viana was barred from having any contact with the victim or any Goodwill store He is scheduled to appear in court again on September 12 for a status of preliminary hearing A 19-year-old man held in the shooting death of a 15-year-old Round Lake Beach girl killed by a stray bullet inside her home on July 24 has been charged with felony murder also is charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm in the death of Valeria Rodriguez according to the Lake County state’s attorney’s office Authorities said an arrest warrant was drafted and additional details were presented to a Lake County judge who signed the warrant Poole was expected to appear in court Monday afternoon on the new charges Poole initially was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon after police found a semiautomatic pistol and other evidence during a search of his home according to the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force was sitting at a dining table in her home at about 9 p.m when she was struck by a bullet fired from outside Rodriguez died from a gunshot wound to the torso according to the Lake County Coroner's Office Victim specialists have been working with the family since the shooting A Round Lake Beach man has been charged in connection with the July 24 shooting death of Valeria Rodriguez was charged by the Lake County state’s attorney’s office with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon according to Major Crime Task Force officials Poole was on probation for a 2023 aggravated robbery case According to records of the Circuit Court of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit in Lake County the state’s attorney’s office dismissed four felony charges stemming from an offense on July 12 pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and was sentenced to 48 months of probation and home monitoring after he also spent seven months in jail between July 2023 and February 2024 “This case is our highest priority,” Sara Avalos public information officer at the Lake County state’s attorney’s office “We are completing the investigation alongside the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force and finalizing charges — all while we stay in close contact with the family The defendant is detained while we complete these steps.” using a search warrant of the home on the 1400 block of Kildeer Drive Round Lake Beach detectives and task force investigators found a semiautomatic pistol and other evidence The pistol uses the same kind of cartridges found outside Rodriguez’s home Poole had an initial court hearing Saturday morning Round Lake Beach Police responded to a call of a person hurt at a residence on the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach When police arrived they found a 15-year-old who had been shot Initial investigation indicated someone outside near the home fired a gun and a stray bullet entered the home and hit the person inside Apparently not the intended target of the shooting Rodriguez was taken to a nearby hospital and later died A GoFundMe account “Honoring Valeria Rodriguez’s Memory” has been established to support her family and help with costs of her memorial service The investigation into the homicide continues Anyone with information is urged to call Round Lake Beach Police at 847-546-2127 A Round Lake Beach man will be detained pretrial on charges he fled police while armed with a gun and possession of methamphetamine He is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon one count of possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number and aggravated fleeing and eluding a police officer an Oak Brook police officer tried to stop a Ford Explorer at around 3:22 p.m near 22nd Street and Midwest Road for having a tinted windshield and changing lanes improperly Police allege that Poblete Lopez disobeyed a stop sign drove through a gasoline station parking lot onto 22nd Street Authorities say Lopez threw away 24.2 grams of methamphetamine during the foot chase A loaded 9 mm Sig Sauer handgun was found in the car According to a prosecutor’s petition for detention Lopez told police he ran because he did not want his wife Poblete Lopez has felony convictions for burglary A woman was left in serious condition after she was struck by a hit-and-run vehicle while crossing Rollins Road in Round Lake Beach The woman was stabilized and her condition was reported to be improving as of Tuesday The victim’s mother said police have been working hard on the case as the search continues for the suspect Before he had a script for his debut horror film, even before he had a story, Gurnee filmmaker Jake Jarvi had a location: Round Lake Beach’s Realm of Terror haunted house whose owner Stephen Kristof shares Jarvi’s affinity for scary movies The pair bonded several years ago after meeting on a project for Jarvis’ boss multi-instrumentalist and YouTube content creator Rob Scallon referring to his long-running haunted house “Next thing I knew, he had written a script and brought it to me,” said Kristof who also plays a haunted house owner in “Haunt Season” which opened Friday in Los Angeles and begins streaming on demand Tuesday “It was weird being a haunted house owner and auditioning for the role of a haunted house owner,” he said laughing “It was a fun experience and a lot more challenging than I thought it was going to be.” The first-time film actor and coproducer says “Haunt Season” is not a traditional horror flick despite the fact it’s dripping with blood,” he said Jarvi knew Kristof’s two decades of experience made him a great scare actor but “I didn’t know he would be so good at dialogue scenes I’m so happy he was so good because he has always wanted to do movies just like me.” Jarvi wrote the movie — about an aspiring actor who joins a haunted house cast whose members are mysteriously disappearing — despite having never stepped inside Kristof’s haunt “It’s a story about people with creative aspirations,” said the Lake Bluff native Having a working haunt in which to film was invaluable He relied partly on the expertise of Kristof and his colleagues including makeup FX artist (and Kristof’s wife) Stevie Calabrese “We shot all the haunt interiors in August and September so we wouldn’t get in their way,” said Jarvi who filmed several additional scenes outside the haunted house after it opened for the 2022 season “Haunt Season” offers a new spin on the haunted house subgenre in that the killer attacks the haunted house actors The film also upends the slasher film trope of characters being unlikable “I don’t want to spend time with (unlikable) people … I don’t want to sit around waiting for the killer to show up I want to be around people I want to spend time with.” a lifelong film fan who discovered slasher movies in high school “That’s what I wanted to populate ‘Haunt Season’ with,” he added Scallon and fellow YouTube creator Craig Benzine — a video producer musician and vlogger known for his WheezyWaiter channel — helped finance “Haunt Season.” Both men appear in the film and Scallon composed music for the soundtrack We’ll also put our names behind it and point our audience toward it,’” said Jarvi who raised more than half of the roughly $200,000 filming cost online Kristof said making the movie offered him and his fellow scare artists an opportunity to share their art with a larger audience While he has no intention of leaving the haunted house biz horror lovers sit back and say “that was a good time.” As for those who aren’t really into bloody slasher films “They only have to close their eyes a few times,” he said with a smile A 15-year-old Round Lake Beach girl who was struck and killed Wednesday by a stray bullet fired from outside her home An examination showed Rodriguez died from a gunshot wound to the torso according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office Round Lake Beach police called about 9:10 p.m to a home on the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive on a report of an injured person found Rodriguez inside with a gunshot wound Preliminary information showed a person fired a gun outside and a stray bullet entered the home and struck the girl Covelli said the bullet entered the home through a window Rodriguez was at a dining table when struck It does not appear Rodriguez was the intended target of the shooting the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force was asked to assist Anyone with information is asked to call Round Lake Beach police at (847) 546-2127 Prosecutors say a man accused of possessing the gun that was used in the homicide of a 15-year-old girl in Round Lake Beach was on probation for an armed robbery case Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli announced in an update Saturday morning that Round Lake Beach police detectives and Lake County Major Crime Task Force investigators reviewed video surveillance from several cameras in the area of the Wednesday shooting that killed Valeria Rodriguez Investigators conducted a search warrant in the early morning hours on Friday at a home in the 1400 block of Kildeer Drive in Round Lake Beach they located a semi-automatic pistol and other evidence A preliminary analysis of the pistol shows it was consistent with discharging the shell casing located outside of Rodriguez’s home Investigators determined that Shorbonia Poole Jr. who lives at the home where the search warrant was conducted possessed the firearm that was used in the homicide The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the charge of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon Covelli said additional charges are expected pending additional forensic information Wednesday in the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach Covelli said Round Lake Beach officers arrived and found a 15-year-old girl who had suffered a gunshot wound inside a residence A preliminary investigation shows a person fired a gun outside near the home A stray bullet shot from the firearm entered Rodriguez’s home and struck her Covelli said Rodriguez was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Lillian Lewis said in court Saturday that investigators recovered one 9mm spent shell casing near the park across the street from Rodriguez’s home Lewis said investigators identified Poole as a suspect in the case and executed the warrant at his residence where they recovered a 9mm firearm Poole was also observed walking in the area where the spent shell casing was later recovered Poole is a convicted felon from an armed robbery case out of Lake County adding that he is not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition Court records show Poole was charged in July 2023 with armed robbery with a firearm theft by threatening and multiple counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon for an incident in Round Lake Beach Poole pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated robbery in exchange for his other charges being dismissed in that case A negotiated plea agreement resulted in Poole being sentenced in February to periodic imprisonment and 300 hours of public service He was also ordered not to possess any weapons and not consume alcohol or illegal drugs Poole faced up to 45 years in prison if he was convicted of the most serious charge of robbery while armed with a firearm Lewis said the investigation into the homicide is ongoing and investigators are waiting on forensics but additional charges are expected “in the next few days.” The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Poole Jr During a First Appearance Court hearing Saturday morning Lake County Judge Veronica O’Malley called the charges against Poole “extremely serious.” She ordered Poole held in the Lake County Jail pending a detention hearing which is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon The family of Rodriguez told WGN earlier this week that the girl was sitting down to eat dinner when she was shot “It does not appear the victim was the intended target of the shooting,” Covelli said A neighbor who spoke to Lake and McHenry County Scanner said they heard an explosion or bang and then the mother of the victim screaming and yelling because her daughter had been injured Multiple neighbors described the gunshot as being similar to a firework Police investigators scoured the area near the home and repeatedly expanded the crime scene during their investigation on the night the homicide occurred which is directly across the street from the victim’s home Investigators were also seen going door-to-door interviewing neighbors An autopsy performed showed Rodriguez died as a result of a gunshot wound to the torso The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Victim Support Specialist Team has been activated and is in contact with the Rodriguez family called the incident “absolutely devastating news.” “My heart goes out to the victim’s loved ones reeling from this terrible loss We have got to get this senseless gun violence out of our communities,” Schneider said Prosecutors say a 20-year-old man was caught with a loaded gun in Fox Lake and also robbed a convenience store in Round Lake Beach at gunpoint earlier this summer was charged with armed robbery with a firearm four counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon Officers with the Fox Lake Police Department around 12:11 a.m on October 9 witnessed a car roll through a stop sign Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Nicholas Shepherd said the driver saw the officer and stopped for a long time before continuing to commit another traffic infraction which had pulled into a driveway on a dead-end street moving around when they approached during the traffic stop None of the occupants lived on the dead-end street The occupants were ordered out of the car and a backpack was found behind the driver seat that contained a semi-automatic pistol with a loaded magazine inserted Shepherd said Shifflett was in the front passenger seat within reach of the backpack Shifflett admitted the gun was his and that it was stolen He does not have a concealed carry license or Firearm Owner’s Identification card and is under the age of 21 Officers suspected the gun was used in an armed robbery that occurred in the late afternoon on June 11 at the Express Food and Liquor 1306 North Cedar Lake Road in Round Lake Beach officers responded to the store and spoke with the cashier and several witnesses The cashier said he had been working when the offender described as a young white male wearing a hoodie and face mask walked into the store and walked down an aisle Shepherd said the offender then walked up to the cashier and pulled out a black handgun and pointed it at the cashier while demanding money from the register A patron witnessed the robbery and said she fled to the bathroom where she called 911 The offender jumped over the counter and took the money before fleeing the store A Lake County sheriff’s canine responded and followed the scent trail of the suspect Shepherd said the trail ended in the 1400 block of Pleasant Drive which is where Shifflett resided in an apartment Clothing was recovered and video surveillance was reviewed which led investigators to suspect Shifflett to be the offender Cell phone data pinpointed Shifflett to the scene at the time of the robbery and to the route that the offender was believed to have fled Two Lake County judges granted separate petitions to detain Shifflett pending trial in both of his cases — the gun arrest in Fox Lake and the armed robbery in Round Lake Beach — following detention hearings this month Shifflett is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday 2024 at 5:52 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Jose Aguirre (Lake County State's Attorney's Office)LAKE COUNTY IL — A 30-year-old Round Lake Beach man has been sentenced to ten years in prison for is role in causing a crash that killed two people in 2020 Aguirre was convicted on nine counts of aggravated DUI following a jury trial in June a Lake County judge sentenced him to the prison time in connection with the Sept collision that killed two passengers in Aguirre's car sustained injuries that are not considered life-threatening according to a news release from the Lake County State's Attorney's Office after a Round Lake Police Department officer attempted to pull over a Chevy Traverse which was speeding and then fled the scene The Chevy reached speeds of 123 mph in a 45-mph zone which had crashed in a wooded area near Route 134 and Main Street in Round Lake Both Renteria-Becerra and Herrera were pronounced dead at the scene prosecutors asked the judge to sentence Aguirre to 18 years in prison “While we are disappointed the sentence was not higher this prison term sends the correct message that dangerous drivers will be held accountable in Lake County And we continue to grieve with the victims over this horrific crime," said Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart following the hearing "We will support them and continue our work with our community partners such as schools and Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists to increase awareness and save lives I want to continue to thank our experienced trial team and victim-support professionals for their work and their assistance to the impacted families.” Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The mother of a 15-year-old girl described her daughter as “sweet and loving” after she was killed by a stray bullet that entered the family’s Round Lake Beach home The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District and Round Lake Beach Police Department responded around 9:10 p.m Wednesday to the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach Multiple 911 callers initially reported hearing some type of explosion sound It was also reported that a person was injured Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said officers arrived and found a 15-year-old girl who had suffered a gunshot wound inside a residence There was no evidence of an explosion and the “explosion” sound was the gunshot A stray bullet shot from the firearm entered the girl’s home and struck her Covelli said the victim was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified the girl Thursday afternoon as Valeria Rodriguez The family of Rodriguez told WGN that the girl was sitting down to eat dinner when she was shot said that her daughter was “sweet” and “loving.” loving daughter who did not deserve to lose her life in this way,” Gallardo said The mother created a GoFundMe account to help raise funds for her family and said both she and her husband are not working The account has already raised over $7,500 Covelli said in an update Friday morning that the Lake County Major Crime Task Force and Round Lake Beach police detectives continue to make progress in the homicide investigation Investigators developed several leads and a person of interest was identified “Enough evidence was gathered to support a search warrant at the home of the person of interest a firearm was located and seized,” Covelli said The suspect remains in custody as investigators continue to conduct follow-up investigation The facts and circumstances of the case are expected to be reviewed with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office A neighbor who spoke to Lake and McHenry County Scanner said they heard an explosion or bang and then the mother of the girl screaming and yelling because her daughter had been injured Police investigators scoured the area near the home and repeatedly expanded the crime scene during their investigation Round Lake Park Police Department and other agencies were present at the scene Anyone with information is asked to call the Round Lake Beach Police Department at 847-546-2127 A Round Lake Beach police officer is being credited with rescuing a hawk that was found in distress in the parking lot of a shopping center on Christmas Eve The Round Lake Beach Police Department said a hawk that appeared to be in distress was found in the parking lot of Walmart The hawk “found solace” in Sgt Ken Lupi and Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation was quickly notified The organization is a licensed non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center based in Barrington that cares for injured and orphaned wildlife Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation said the juvenile red-tailed hawk flew down and landed on a person in the Walmart parking lot A woman put out her hand and the hawk stepped onto her hand where it stood until police arrived Lupi took control of the hawk and brought it back to the police department until the organization picked it up The hawk was “filthy” but in good health “We suspect that someone may have illegally raised the hawk in captivity so we will be evaluating it for human imprinting or habituation,” Flint Creek Wildlife said “Thanks to the public and to Round Lake Beach Police Department!” the organization said Flint Creek Wildlife said Christmas Eve evening was busy for them They also rescued an opossum that was hit by a car in Woodstock and a Cooper’s Hawk that appeared to have hit a window in Morris Prosecutors have charged a man with first-degree murder after he allegedly fired a gun killing a child as she sat down for dinner at her Round Lake Beach home was initially charged on July 26 with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon Poole was additionally charged on Monday with first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm the Lake County Major Crime Task Force announced The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the latest charges and an arrest warrant was signed by a Lake County judge Monday morning “The Round Lake Beach Police Department would like to thank the men and women of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force for their dedication and countless hours investigating this tragic incident we appreciate the coordination with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office throughout the course of the investigation Our condolences to the family of Valeria Rodriguez for their loss,” Round Lake Beach Chief of Police Wayne Wilde Jr and Mayor Scott Nickles said in a joint statement Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said his office continues to “express our deep condolences and sympathies to the family of Valeria Rodriguez over their unimaginable loss.” “Our victim specialists have been working closely with the family since this crime occurred and our cyber forensic team have been working around the clock and have done an incredible job to secure justice for this senseless shooting,” Rinehart said Poole remains held in the Lake County Jail after he was arrested on July 26 when investigators conducted a search warrant at his home in the 1400 block of Kildeer Drive in Round Lake Beach An article search was conducted by Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Drako who located a pistol in the backyard of the residence hidden in a pile of brush Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said the firearm was collected and sent to the crime lab for analysis A preliminary analysis of the pistol showed it was consistent with discharging the shell casing located outside of the home of Valeria Rodriguez Investigators determined that Poole possessed the firearm that was used in the homicide The murder charges were filed after additional forensic information from the crime lab was recently received Poole appeared in court Wednesday afternoon for a detention hearing before Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeffrey Facklam said prosecutors and Poole’s attorney mutually agreed to delay the hearing until next Tuesday and keep Poole detained The judge ordered Poole detained in the Lake County Jail until his next court appearance Poole is scheduled to appear in First Appearance Court on Monday afternoon following the new charges being filed Round Lake Beach police detectives and Lake County Major Crime Task Force investigators reviewed video surveillance from several cameras in the area of Rodriguez’s murder which led to the search warrant and them identifying Poole as a suspect Rodriguez was shot while inside her residence in the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach around 9:10 p.m Poole is accused of firing a gun outside near the home A stray bullet shot from the firearm entered Rodriguez’s home and struck her as she was sitting down to eat dinner Poole was also placed in the area using data from his electronic monitoring bracelet which he had been placed on months prior for a separate criminal case Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Lillian Lewis said that investigators recovered one 9mm spent shell casing near the park across the street from Rodriguez’s home Poole was observed walking in the area where the spent shell casing was later recovered A negotiated plea agreement resulted in Poole being sentenced in February to three years of electronic home monitoring and 300 hours of public service Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sara Avalos told Lake and McHenry County Scanner last week that the state’s attorney’s office continues to review the nature and circumstances of how Rodriguez was killed Avalos said there is no evidence to suggest the girl or her house was targeted There is also no evidence that there were any other intended victims suggesting that the person who fired the gun may have done so at random Covelli on Monday declined to say whether the Major Crime Task Force believes the shooting was random or not “We continue to express our deep condolences and sympathies to the family of Valeria Rodriguez over this senseless shooting and their unimaginable loss We will hold accountable any offender for any actions that caused her death,” Avalos said A driver was cited after causing a crash with a motorcycle that resulted in the motorcyclist being ejected and injured in Round Lake Beach Monday evening The Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District and Round Lake Beach Police Department responded around 8:19 p.m Monday to the intersection of Rollins Road and Orchard Lane for a multiple-vehicle crash with injuries Officers arrived to find two cars and a motorcycle involved Police said one car was facing eastbound in the left turn lane on Rollins Road at Orchard Road The car turned in front of the motorcyclist which was traveling westbound on Rollins Road The driver of the at-fault car was so concerned about the motorcycle driver that they jumped out of the car to check on the motorcyclist without first putting the car in park who was found lying on the side of the road approximately 50 feet from his motorcycle suffered injuries that were not life-threatening He was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment The driver of the at-fault vehicle was cited for failure to yield and driving without insurance A judge denied pre-trial release to a man accused in the murder of a 15-year-old girl that prosecutors said was shot when the suspect fired a gun into her Round Lake Beach home as she ate dinner aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeffrey Facklam said during a detention hearing Wednesday that the Round Lake Beach Police Department responded around 9:10 p.m on July 24 to the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive in Round Lake Beach 911 callers reported hearing some type of explosion in the area Officers discovered that Valeria Rodriguez Rodriguez was transported by ambulance to an area hospital where she was pronounced dead Facklam said the Lake County Major Crime Task Force was called to investigate A bullet hole was located in the window of the home where Rodriguez had been sitting at the kitchen table eating dinner Investigators used a laser sight to determine the trajectory the bullet was fired They determined the gun had been fired from Greenview Park across the street from the home “We know that guns when fired the bullets go in straight lines across the street and through the victim’s window and into the victim — there is only one explanation for that,” Facklam said “That is when the defendant entered the park and fired the firearm he was pointing that gun directly at the victim’s residence and the row of houses across the street,” Facklam said would “have every reason to know” that people would be in their homes at 9:10 p.m Investigators located video footage from a residential complex a few blocks away on Golfview Drive with another person leaving the complex just before 9 p.m which is located south of the park in the 1400 block of Kildeer Drive Additional video showed a subject believed to be Poole Jr continuing west on Golfview Drive before turning onto Kildeer Drive where the park is located told investigators he had not left his house since the afternoon on the day of the incident a surveillance image and he identified himself in the photograph Facklam said video from Poole Jr.’s phone showed him entering his residence just a few minutes after the shooting occurred A search warrant was obtained for Poole Jr.’s home and an article search was conducted by Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Drako A crime lab analysis showed the gun recovered fired the spent projectile and the shell casing recovered was arrested following the search warrant and has been held in the Lake County Jail since his arrest Lake County Major Crime Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said at the time of the incident that it did not appear the child was the intended target of the shooting In addition to the surveillance video used in the case was also placed in the area using data from his electronic monitoring bracelet was charged in July 2023 with armed robbery with a firearm pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated robbery A negotiated plea agreement resulted in Poole Jr being sentenced in February to three years of periodic imprisonment — which was actually electronic home monitoring — and 300 hours of public service faced up to 45 years in prison if he was convicted of the most serious charge of robbery while armed with a firearm The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Poole Jr arguing there were no conditions of release that mitigate the threat he poses to the public had been delayed several times as the man worked to hire an attorney before the hearing was finally held on Wednesday argued in court that prosecutors cannot prove Poole Jr Radosevich said prosecutors have “a lot of suspicion Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted the state’s petition and ordered Poole Jr on electronic monitoring pending trial would not allow him to be properly monitored Potkonjak said that in a “perfect world,” Poole Jr would not have been out of custody at the time the murder occurred if the man was actually serving periodic imprisonment he was given in his prior robbery case Due to a staffing shortage in the Lake County Jail defendants who receive periodic imprisonment are currently placed on electronic home monitoring The judge said prosecutors knew when they negotiated the plea deal that Poole Jr would not be in periodic imprisonment and would be on electronic home monitoring which allows for him to leave his home two days a week under the Illinois SAFE-T Act Potkonjak called it “mind-boggling” that state law allows for people on electronic home monitoring to leave their homes “The court does find by clear and convincing evidence that he committed the offense There are no conditions or combination of conditions that could ensure the safety of anyone out there,” the judge said in his ruling denying Poole Jr.’s release The man arrested for possessing the gun believed to be used in the shooting that killed a 15-year-old girl in Round Lake Beach appeared in court Wednesday and prosecutors said additional charges may be filed soon was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon He was arrested on Friday after investigators conducted a search warrant at his home in the 1400 block of Kildeer Drive in Round Lake Beach A preliminary analysis of the pistol shows it was consistent with discharging the shell casing located last week outside of the home of Valeria Rodriguez Facklam said prosecutors are still reviewing forensic evidence related to the homicide of Rodriguez but they believe that will be completed by the next court hearing Facklam said the results from the crime lab will allow additional charges to be finalized Round Lake Beach police detectives and Lake County Major Crime Task Force investigators reviewed video surveillance from several cameras in the area of Rodriguez’s murder which led to the search warrant last week and them identifying Poole as a suspect Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sara Avalos told Lake and McHenry County Scanner on Wednesday that the state’s attorney’s office continues to review the nature and circumstances of how Rodriguez was killed 2025 at 10:05 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Texas-based Thakkar Developers of McKinney games and other activities to the former theater at 550 E IL — A family entertainment center could be coming to the vacant Regal Cinemas in Rond Lake Beach that was severely damaged by an arson fire last April Texas-based Thakkar Developers of McKinney, Texas, is hoping to bring seven movie screens, full-service restaurant, games and other activities to the former theater at 550 E Other possibilities for the 72,000-square-foot center include a multi-level indoor electric Go-Kart track The theater was among the Regal Cinemas to close in early 2023 prior to the 2024 fire Round Lake Beach Detectives and Lake County Major Crime Task Force Investigators have reviewed video surveillance from several cameras in the area of a shooting that apparently involved stray bullet that killed a 15 year-old girld investigators conducted a search warrant at a home in the 1400 block of Kildeer Drive Preliminary analysis of the pistol shows it is consistent with discharging the shell casing located outside of Rodriguez’ home Pending additional follow-up investigation the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the charge of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon (class 2 felony) against Poole Additional charges are expected pending additional forensic information The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Victim Support Specialist Team has been activated and in close contact with the Rodriguez family remains in custody pending an initial court hearing Saturday morning The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is filing a petition to detain Poole All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law — Lake County Sheriff’s Office A 15-year-old girl was killed after she was hit by a stray bullet while inside a home in north suburban Round Lake Beach Wednesday night. A person of interest, who has not been identified, was taken into custody, police confirmed Friday morning. Police said a firearm was recovered during a search warrant (CBS Chicago). YouTube Tips ⓘ Lake County Major Crime Task Force Investigators and Round Lake Beach Police Detectives are investigating the homicide of a 15-year-old Round Lake Beach girl Round Lake Beach Police responded about 9:10 p.m. 2024 to a report of an “injured person” at a residence in the bock of 1500 Cherokee Drive they found a 15-year-old inside the residence who sustained a gunshot wound Preliminary information indicates a person fired a gun outside A stray bullet shot from the firearm entered the victim’s home and struck the victim The victim was transported to an area hospital According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office it does not appear the victim was the intended target of the shooting Round Lake Beach Police requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crime Task Force Round Lake Beach police say just after 9 p.m., officers responded to a home in the 1500 block of Cherokee Drive for a report of a person injured (CBS Chicago). YouTube Tips ⓘ The Lake County Coroner’s Office immediately scheduled an autopsy for the girl killed in her home on the west side of Round Lake Beach near the Fairfield Sports Complex – Round Lake Results from a Thursday morning autopsy examination indicate that Valeria Rodriguez died from a gunshot wound of the torso there were no details released regarding the location origin of the bullet The victim’s family lives just east of the Fairfield Sports Complex Lake County Major Crime Task Force Investigators and Round Lake Beach Police Detectives continue to actively investigate the homicide The emergency call was initially dispatched indicating some type of explosion but the term may have been related to miscommunication as part of a language barrier Anyone with information about this homicide case is encouraged to call Round Lake Beach Police at 847-546-2127 Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken Plans Location in Arlington Heights Schaumburg Woman Critically Injured at Russell Rd and Frontage Rd East of I-94 in Newport Township “Someday soon we’ll stop to ponder what on earth’s this spell we’re under.” so don’t waste it living someone else’s life Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.”