A worker was arrested for allegedly committing identity theft at several businesses after officials say credit cards and jewelry were stolen from residents at a senior living facility in Deer Park.

Randi N. Soto, 31, of Round Lake, was charged with four counts of aggravated identity theft of an elderly person and one count of unlawful possession of a credit or debit card.

Soto was employed at Deer Park Village Senior Living, 21840 West Lake Cook Road in Deer Park.

Prosecutors said two victims noticed their credit cards and jewelry were missing.

They gave no one permission to use or take their credit cards or jewelry. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office was notified.

An elderly female victim noticed jewelry was taken from her room and there were attempted transactions on her debit card on April 5, prosecutors said.

Her debit card was also used at Walmart in Gurnee and then used again at the Walmart in Waukegan.

Soto was captured on video trying to use the debit card, prosecutors said.

A second elderly female victim noticed she had four gold necklaces missing and her debit card.

The debit card was used at Luxury Spa and Nails in Kenosha. Soto was seen on video using the debit card at the nail salon, prosecutors said.

The card was also used at Cheddars in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, and Soto was captured on camera during that instance, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said the debit card was also used at Walmart in Waukegan where Soto was again seen on video using the debit card.

An arrest warrant was obtained for Soto charging her with the Class 3 felonies on May 15. She was arrested earlier this month.

Court records show Soto was on pre-trial release at the time of the identity theft incidents for a felony case from November 2023 in Lake County. She was also actively wanted im a misdemeanor case from June 2025 in Lake County.

The pending felony case involved a theft in Vernon Hills. The misdemeanor case involved a violation of order of protection in Waukegan.

Soto also has a pending residential burglary case in Cook County.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to revoke Soto’s pre-trial release in her prior case after her latest arrest, arguing she violated her release conditions by committing a new offense.

Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition during a pre-trial release revocation hearing and ordered Soto to be held in the Lake County Jail.

He noted that there are multiple failure-to-appear warrants and judgments on bond forfeitures in her history.

Soto is scheduled to appear in court again on September 1 for a status hearing.

The owner of the Trump Truth Store in Crystal Lake announced Thursday she was closing the store, saying “Libs win,” just three months after the business hosted a grand opening.

“Closing store! Libs win!!!” the Trump Truth Store said in a social media post Thursday afternoon.

The owner, Algonquin resident Lisa Fleischmann, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Fleischmann has repeatedly made news headlines over her controversial store, located at 829 South Virginia Road in Crystal Lake, which sells apparel, cups, mugs, posters, flags and other memorabilia related to President Donald Trump.

A grand opening party for the store was held on May 16 to commemorate the store’s relocation from Huntley.

The new store, which soft launched before holding its grand opening party, temporarily closed in March due to a lack of sales after it was previously located at 10890 North Route 47 in Huntley.

The store closed its Huntley location in July 2025 after the owner of the building filed to evict Fleischmann from the property in March 2025.

She faced eviction for displaying Trump signs, flags, table chairs, a Trump inflatable and a sign on her trailer outside the store.

The owner said in the eviction complaint that Fleischmann refused to keep her merchandise inside her store despite numerous requests by the landlord and the Village of Huntley.

Fleischmann previously said Trump triggers people and that is the part she “loves,” saying she does not run the store for money.

Video went viral online recently showing Fleischmann being arrested on May 26 in Carpentersville on an arrest warrant after she finished dinner at Olive Garden with her daughter and a friend.

A traffic stop took place after an officer saw her license plate was bent while she was driving near the former Spring Hill Mall in the West Dundee and Carpentersville area.

The bodycam video showed officers interacting with Fleischmann as she sat in her car before telling her “bad news” that there was a valid warrant for her arrest.

Officers repeatedly told her to step out of the car as Fleischmann seemed confused about why she had a warrant.

Fleischmann had previously failed to appear in court in December for a hearing in a traffic case where she was charged with driving on a suspended license in DuPage County and a judge issued an arrest warrant for her.

Officers handcuffed her and Fleischmann began saying, “This is ridiculous” and “This is unbelievable” as she asked what she did wrong.

“I have done nothing to break a law… I didn’t even do anything,” Fleischmann said, adding that she could not wait for the arrest to get in the media.

Moments later, the video showed Fleischmann saying the handcuffs hurt and demanding they be removed.

Fleischmann began tensing up and screaming about the handcuffs. “This f—ing hurts,” she said while screaming, “get this thing off of me.”

“I swear to god, I swear to god, I will sue the s–t out of you,” Fleischmann could be heard saying as she screamed before being placed into a squad car.

Fleischmann was transported to the DuPage County Jail where she was held overnight before appearing in court where a judge released her with a new court date.

Fleischmann pleaded guilty last week to driving while license suspended as part of a plea agreement in DuPage County Circuit Court.

Court records show an additional charge of operating a vehicle with canceled, suspended or revoked registration was dismissed.

A judge sentenced Fleischmann to six months of court supervision.

Fleischmann, who has repeatedly used her business’ social media to discuss her legal matters over the past several months, said in a Facebook post after her guilty plea that it is “mind boggling” how the court system treats people.

“I was just seven minutes late to court, and they issued a warrant for my arrest. When I got into the courtroom, they handcuffed me again. I asked why, and the officer said, ‘We don’t know what kind of weapons you have on you.’ How does that make any sense when you have to go through the metal detectors take off your belt your shoes,” she said.

She also had been charged with similar traffic offenses in Cook County and McHenry County.

“Both Cook County and Mchenry County dismissed the charges that were associated even driving without a license. Because it was all about paperwork I didn’t actually violate any driving laws to injure anybody. Why is DuPage county Not giving me my date to testify without throwing me back in jail. They asked me if I was being persuaded in anyway of pleading guilty. While I’m standing there in handcuffs, What do you think?” Fleischmann said.

“But now they handcuffed me and let me sit there with the handcuffs on the entire time. So I wanna know how that didn’t persuade me of pleading guilty. The threat of them throwing me back in lock up,” she said. “I had no real choice but to plead guilty,” she added.

A driver was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after his vehicle was hit by a freight train, causing multiple railroad crossings to be blocked in Lake Forest Friday morning.

The Lake Forest Police Department and Lake Forest Fire Department responded around 11:35 a.m. Friday to the area of Old Mill Road and Waukegan Road for a vehicle crash with injuries.

Lake Forest Deputy Police Chief Kevin Zelk said the incident involved a vehicle and a freight train.

Emergency personnel arrived and found that a white Audi sedan had been struck by a southbound train.

The driver, a man in his 50s, was transported by ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville in serious condition, Zelk said.

The Metra Police Department said that the victim was in critical but stable condition.

He was reported to be unconscious and barely breathing at the scene. No one else was injured.

An initial report from a 911 caller indicated the car was split in half; however, it remained intact but was heavily damaged.

The collision involved a Kansas City Southern freight train, which was traveling from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Bensenville, Illinois.

The railroad also shares service with the Metra Milwaukee District North and the Amtrak Hiawatha Lines.

Train traffic was temporarily stopped to ensure the scene was safe for responders but has resumed on one track.

Roads in the vicinity of the crash were shut down for the scene investigation and due to the stopped freight train, which caused other crossings in the area to be blocked.

A front-end loader picked up the damaged vehicle, which was located south of Old Mill Road on the west side of the edge of the train tracks, and brought it to a tow truck after the investigation was complete.

Canadian Pacific Kansas Southern is leading the investigation into the incident, with the Metra Police Department and the Lake Forest Police Department assisting.

The incident appears to have been an intentional act based on a preliminary investigation, Zelk said.

“If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available,” Lake Forest Police Chief John Burke said.

“The Lake Forest Police Department’s Social Worker can help connect individuals with mental health resources and community services,” Burke said.

Residents can also contact the Lake County Crisis Care Program at 847-377-8088, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The program can provide crisis counseling and connect individuals with the county’s Mobile Response Team.

People can also call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate emotional support. 911 should be contacted if someone is in immediate danger or requires emergency assistance.

The Illinois Tollway Board has voted to approve a more than $26 billion capital program funded by massive toll rate increases of approximately 60% for passenger vehicles beginning in January.

The Illinois Tollway Board of Directors on Wednesday approved Driving Connections, a $26.5 billion capital program across the Tollway system through 2042, in a 8-0 vote in an effort to address congestion, aging infrastructure and transportation needs of the region.

The board also approved new passenger and commercial vehicle toll rates to fund the program beginning January 1.

It was the first increase in more than 15 years and the board says it is to ensure rates remain below the national average.

The Driving Connections program is focused on rebuilding and rehabilitating roads and bridges, improving interchanges and access, reducing traffic delays and making the systemwide investments to keep nearly 300 miles of the tollway “safe and reliable.”

“This investment is about planning responsibly for the future of a transportation system that is critical to our region,” Illinois Tollway Board Chairman Arnie Rivera said.

“The Driving Connections capital program earned the support of the Tollway Board of Directors because connecting people and businesses through smart planning, strategic partnerships and collaborative projects will deliver benefits for the entire region,” Rivera said.

The Illinois Tollway says the action is the culmination of more than two years of “strategic planning, analysis and public engagement.”

The work included hosting 13 public hearings across the 12 counties served by the tollway and gathering more than 13,000 comments, with customers identifying affordability, well-maintained roadways and fewer traffic delays among their priorities.

“We listened, we planned and now we have a responsibility to deliver,” Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse said.

“Nearly 1.7 million drivers rely on this system every day, and our responsibility extends well beyond the next construction season. We know where congestion is growing, and we know how our infrastructure ages. Driving Connections gives us a responsible path to meet those needs and keep Northern Illinois moving for the next generation,” Rouse said.

The new capital program will be primarily funded through toll revenue, which will be supported by toll rate increases for both passenger and commercial vehicles that will take effect on January 1.

Funding for infrastructure improvements will also be generated through “biennial” toll rate adjustments for all vehicles tied to the Consumer Price Index.

The Illinois Tollway is a user-funded system that receives no state or federal tax dollars.

The new toll rate updates will support annual maintenance and operations, along with debt service for revenue bonds used to fund capital improvements for the tollway system, officials said.

I-PASS passenger vehicle drivers will see an increase of approximately 57%, from an average of $0.07 per mile to approximately $0.11 per mile. Commercial vehicles will see an approximately 30% increase.

All toll rates moving forward will also be adjusted every other year, beginning in 2029, without a vote to account for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index.

Residents packed a city council meeting, which had to be held at the opera house due to the crowd, demanding the removal of Flock cameras in Woodstock as they referred to it as “mass surveillance.”

The Woodstock City Council held a regular council meeting on Tuesday evening, which had to be moved to the Woodstock Opera House’s auditorium to accommodate the number of attendees.

While the council was not set to discuss any topics related to surveillance cameras, a large number of attendees were there regarding Flock cameras.

Don Francis, who is behind “Stop Flock in Woodstock,” a local resistance group, spoke during the public comment period of the meeting.

Francis said during the council meeting that the cameras constitute “mass surveillance” and residents do not want that in their hometown.

He said the group would “not be going anywhere” until the cameras were removed.

The Woodstock City Council had previously approved a three-year agreement with Flock Safety Group in February for six surveillance video cameras for the Woodstock Square.

The measure narrowly passed in a 4-3 vote after it had previously failed to pass in November due to a 3-3 tie vote when the mayor was absent from the council meeting.

The city was already in a separate, five-year agreement with Flock for 13 automated license plate readers (ALPR) in the city and on the Woodstock Square.

There has recently been a growing nationwide trend of resistance to Flock cameras due to privacy concerns.

Francis said his group is not anti-police or anti-camera but is “very concerned” about Flock’s data gathering and what they do with that data.

“We believe mass surveillance and data collection on this scale infringes on our Fourth Amendment right to privacy, and we are hoping our elected officials will listen to their constituents about this,” he said.

The group says they object to Flock’s poor hardware security and access controls and the company’s business model of aggregating, sharing and selling data to hundreds of jurisdictions across Illinois.

“This practice resulted in multiple cases of law enforcement stalking nationwide, including at least four in Illinois and one in McHenry County,” the group said.

In June, Holiday Hills Police Chief William Copp, who was a part-time police officer in Prairie Grove, was charged with conducting hundreds of searches through the Flock system unrelated to any official law enforcement investigation while on and off duty to allegedly track people he knew, including the ex-boyfriend of a woman he also dated.

Dozens of people spoke out during the meeting against Flock.

One woman who spoke during the meeting listed off cities that have canceled their contracts with Flock Safety, which she called an unregulated tech company.

A man who spoke said the cameras are a “total dismantling of our constitutional rights.”

Stop Flock in Woodstock has said that there have been several instances of Flock Safety’s systems misidentifying license plates, leading law enforcement to pursue or arrest citizens in error.

The group recently created a petition calling for the city to end all contracts with Flock Safety Group.

Stop Flock in Woodstock is requesting the city to instead find a closed-circuit option from a “reputable vendor after proper due diligence and community input.”

The group says they have collected over 2,000 signatures, with over 1,300 being from McHenry County.

City officials spoke out last week, saying that the cameras in public areas are used to assist the Woodstock Police Department with public safety and criminal investigations.

The city currently operates three types of camera systems, including the xix fixed-position cameras located in public areas of the Square. “These cameras provide video footage to assist officers with investigations and are not Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs).”

The second type of camera system is the Benton and Main Street security cameras, which are fixed-position security cameras located at key intersections and are not operated by Flock.

“This system operates independently from Flock and serves the same public safety and investigative purpose, subject to the same guidelines governing officer use and access,” they said.

The third type of camera system is the Flock ALPRs, which are a network of 13 license plate readers. They are designed to capture and analyze license plate information to assist with investigations.

“All three systems are subject to the Woodstock Police Department’s General Order #30-007, which establishes requirements for authorized use, access, data retention, auditing and accountability,” the city said.

“Footage and data captured by these systems are automatically and permanently deleted after 30 days unless preserved as evidence or otherwise required to be retained by law,” they added.

The city announced on August 14 that it had rolled out a transparency portal regarding the Flock camera systems.

The portal showed that data is retained for 30 days and Flock has detected over 232,000 license plates in the prior 30 days, with over 1,600 being on a “hotlist.” The department conducted 31 searches in that period.

The portal also showed that the Woodstock Police Department shares the data with police departments and villages across the state.

Emails between Woodstock Police Chief John Lieb and Flock Safety representatives show the police chief called the situation an “unnecessary political storm” in November, when the initial vote on the Flock video cameras in the Square failed to pass.

Lieb also informed Flock that “someone in town” was trying to negatively sway the November vote. He also forwarded an email to them that the city council received from someone opposing the Flock camera expansion.

“I’m not quite sure what’s behind someone’s campaign to keep Woodstock less safe,” Lieb said in an email.

Residents at city council meetings have said they were worried about allowing outside agencies to have access to the system.

Other residents previously said the Woodstock Square is a place for people to shop and visit and that the cameras would change the city by having “Big Brother” watching.

A grand jury has indicted a former company executive on first-degree murder charges for allegedly driving drunk and at 80 mph when he caused a boat crash that left a U.S. Marine veteran dead near McHenry.

A McHenry County grand jury returned a bill of indictment on Thursday against Richard Stevenson, 45, of Lisle, charging him with first-degree murder in connection with the July 25 fatal boating crash on the Fox River in unincorporated McHenry.

The indictment additionally charges Stevenson with aggravated driving under the influence and four counts of operating a watercraft under the influence, all of which are Class 2 felonies.

The new charges follow an “extensive and continuing investigation” by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police.

“Based upon a comprehensive review of the totality of the evidence, the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office determined that the presentation of the First Degree Murder charge to the grand jury was required,” the state’s attorney’s office said Friday.

The grand jury returned a true bill of indictment on all charges presented. Stevenson pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday.

The indictment said in addition to alcohol, Stevenson also had THC and cocaine in his system.

Magdalena Jablonska, 48, of Des Plaines, and her fiancé, Des Plaines resident Alan Telmini, were in a Crownline runabout motorboat that was operated by Telmini on the Fox River in unincorporated McHenry on July 25.

Stevenson was operating a newer model South Bay tri-toon pontoon boat equipped with three 500-horsepower outboard motors.

Telmini was operating the Crownline boat within a designated no-wake zone on a narrow strip of the Fox River “at a very slow rate of speed” near the easterly shoreline, a lawsuit complaint said.

The complaint said Stevenson was operating the South Bay at speeds of more than 75 mph as he approached the same area where the Crownline was traveling.

Stevenson operated his boat in a manner and speed that the front end of his vessel was “significantly upright over the water level, so as to compromise the Defendant’s ability to see watercraft vehicles and persons that were directly in the path,” the suit said.

The suit also alleged that Stevenson had consumed alcoholic beverages that “significantly compromised” his ability to operate the boat safely.

He drove his high-powered boat into the couple’s boat with “such force and violence” that the South Bay boat rode up the stern of the victims’ boat and “literally flew over the top of it” and the outboard sterndrives, pontoon tubes or attached propellers caused a decapitation injury to Jablonska, the suit said.

Telmini also suffered physical injury, as well as emotional distress and post-traumatic stress disorder, the complaint said.

“At said time and place, when this violent impact occurred, [Telmini] was not only physically struck by the boat on his left side, but he saw his beloved fiancé decapitated while she sat within inches of his person.

The suit says Stevenson was careless and negligent by operating under the influence of alcohol, failing to keep a proper lookout, operating at a greater than reasonable speed and failing to yield the right-of-way.

His actions resulted in Jablonska’s death from “severe and debilitating injuries.” The suit says Jablonska’s two brothers, two sisters and parents have suffered the loss of her “continued love, affection, support and society.”

The estate’s special administrator is one of Jablonska’s sisters. The three-count lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damage in excess of the $50,000 threshold.

A visitation for family and friends was held on August 9 for Jablonska, who “left this world far too soon” and was a proud United States Marine veteran “whose strength, loyalty, and determination carried through every part of her life,” according to her obituary.

“She had a generous heart and was the kind of person who always put others before herself. Whether it was helping family, caring for friends, or rescuing animals, she never hesitated to give whatever she had to someone in need. She never met a stranger for long because she had a way of making people feel like family,” her obituary said.

The law firm representing the estate of Jablonska said they are seeking to “hold all responsible parties accountable” following the crash where the couple was enjoying an afternoon on the Fox River. The couple’s dog, Sasha, was on Jablonska’s lap and survived.

Attorneys Louis C. Cairo and Michael D. Krause say their law firm’s investigation “extends well beyond” the actions of Stevenson.

Boaters and residents observed the same offending boat speeding excessively on the Chain O’ Lakes on numerous prior occasions, attorneys say.

“The civil justice system exists to hold negligent parties accountable, and we intend to pursue every avenue available under Illinois law. Our mission is to uncover every fact and identify every party whose conduct may have contributed to this tragedy,” Cairo said.

GWC said they will retain boating safety specialists, accident reconstruction experts and marine engineering consultants to evaluate the circumstances surrounding the collision.

A LinkedIn profile for Stevenson said he was a Vice President at Stevenson Crane Service, Inc., based in Bolingbrook, and the company says it has since terminated his employment. He remains detained in the McHenry County Jail.

Magdalena’s obituary said she “loved deeply and fiercely.”

“Her family meant everything to her, and those fortunate enough to know her will remember her for her compassion, resilience, sense of humor, and her ability to make everyone around her feel loved. Her kindness touched countless lives, and the memories she created will live on forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved her,” her obituary said.

McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein said that on July 29, days after the crash, someone found a partial human head in the 2100 block of Colby Drive in unincorporated McHenry.

Rein said his office was working to positively identify the remains that were found. Prosecutors said that first responders had not immediately located all of the victim’s remains following the crash.

Multiple witnesses reported to officers that Stevenson had been consuming alcohol throughout the day while operating the vessel and was driving at high rates of speed on both the Chain O’ Lakes and the Fox River just prior to crashing into the Crownline, prosecutors said.

Anyone who witnessed the events leading up to the crash or has useful surveillance video should complete an online incident report form to assist Illinois Conservation Police in the investigation.

A man was flown to the hospital with potentially serious injuries after fire officials say he fell from his bicycle outside of a manufacturing plant in Cary.

The Cary Fire Protection District responded around 5:54 p.m. Friday to the 100 block of Detroit Street in Cary for a report of a fall victim.

Cary Fire Protection District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha said an adult male had fallen from a bicycle and lost consciousness.

The accident happened in the area of Swiss Automation, 185 Detroit Street.

Paramedics determined the victim had suffered a potentially serious head injury, Vucha said.

The type of injury prompted the request for a medical helicopter to respond.

A LifeNet medical helicopter responded to the helipad at Mercyhealth Hospital and Physician Clinic in Crystal Lake.

The ambulance transported the victim to the helipad and he was transferred to the flight crew.

The helicopter flew the man to a Level 1 trauma center for further treatment, Vucha said.

His condition was not known and further details surrounding the accident were not released.

Investigators say an Algonquin man groomed a child online and lured her to meet up where he repeatedly sexually abused her, with prosecutors saying the victim showed “tremendous courage” by speaking up.

Victor Hugo Agaton-Mora, 29, of Algonquin, was charged with six counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, indecent solicitation of a child, child luring, two counts of grooming and two counts of distributing harmful material to a minor.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Agaton-Mora lured and solicited a child, who was under the age of 16, by communicating with her electronically and persuading her away from her home.

He sexually abused her in an apartment complex laundry room in the middle of the night on June 2, the complaint said, adding that the abuse also occurred later that day in the evening.

The complaint said Agaton-Mora also committed the offense of grooming by using his cellphone to seduce and solicit the victim to commit sexual conduct. The pattern occurred from June 1 to June 8.

The complaint said Agaton-Mora also distributed harmful material to the victim by sending her a sexually explicit image of himself by text message. He also allegedly sent her sexually explicit images of other people.

The Algonquin Police Department began investigating the case in early July after receiving a report that a child had been sexually abused by Agaton-Mora.

A forensic interview was conducted with the child and detectives learned that Agaton-Mora and the child had communicated through Snapchat and TextNow, prosecutors said.

Detectives obtained search warrants for Agaton-Mora’s Snapchat and TextNow accounts.

Investigators uncovered “extensive” sexually explicit text and phone communications between Agaton-Mora and the victim, prosecutors said.

The investigation also revealed that those communications culminated in Agaton-Mora meeting with the child and engaging in sexual conduct on multiple occasions in June, prosecutors said.

The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Agaton-Mora after his arrest.

McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb granted the request and ordered Agaton-Mora held in the McHenry County Jail.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said she commends the victim for her bravery and the Algonquin Police Department for its investigation.

“This child showed tremendous courage by speaking up about what was happening. Because they found the strength to come forward, Algonquin detectives were able to uncover critical digital evidence and act upon it. We will stand with this child and fight to hold those who prey on children accountable,” Freese said.

Agaton-Mora is scheduled to appear in court again on September 3.

Funeral services were held for a Park City father of five and grandfather of three, who “left a lasting impression,” after he died in a freak accident where a wheel detached from a trailer, striking him in Gurnee.

Domingo Ocampo, 60, of Park City, was riding an electric scooter in the area of northbound Route 41 near the Grand Avenue exit in Gurnee around 5:25 p.m. on July 27.

Gurnee Battalion Fire Chief Nick Perry said he was returning to Gurnee Fire Station #1 after an unrelated call when several people flagged him down for the crash.

The crash involved a Ford F-450 and the electric scooter, which was operated by Ocampo, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.

An ambulance responded and firefighter/paramedics rushed Ocampo to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with critical injuries.

A preliminary investigation showed Ocampo was riding his e-scooter northbound along the shoulder of Route 41, Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor said.

At the same time, the Ford, driven by a 45-year-old Waukegan man, was traveling northbound on Route 41.

The Ford was pulling a trailer with a front-loader, Gaylor said.

“During the incident, two wheels became detached from the trailer. One of the wheels struck the scooter rider, causing life-threatening injuries,” Gaylor said.

The man was listed in critical condition but died two weeks later in the intensive care unit at Advocate Condell Medical Center on August 8, Banek said.

The man driving the Ford was not injured, Gaylor said. He remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.

A preliminary coroner’s investigation shows that Ocampo died from complications of blunt force head injuries as a result of the incident, Banek said.

An obituary for Ocampo said he leaves behind five children and three grandchildren, along with brothers and sisters and many other family members.

Ocampo came to the United States from Mexico in his early 20s and had the hope of building a life for himself and his family.

“Through years of hard work and dedication, he built a life centered around his family, perseverance, and love for those around him,” his obituary said, adding that he worked as a landscaper for most of his life and was a hardworking person who “took pride in providing for his family and appreciated spending quality time with the people he loved.”

Due to the severity of the crash, the Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) of Lake County was requested to help investigate the crash.

The northbound lanes of Route 41 were shut down at Washington Street for several hours while investigators worked the scene.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Auxiliary Deputy Unit assisted with road closures.

Ernie’s Wrecker Service and Lin-Mar Towing & Recovery responded to remove both the F-450 and the trailer with the front-loader.

The northbound lanes were reopened at around 10 p.m.

The obituary for Ocampo said he was a man of strong faith and that many people came to visit him and shared stories about him while he was in the hospital.

“People from different chapters of his life—neighbors, coworkers, friends, and others he had met along the way—made the effort to be there. The stories and kind words they shared were a beautiful reminder of the impact Domingo had on the people around him. He may not have sought recognition, but he left a lasting impression through the way he treated others and the relationships he built throughout his life,” his family said in the obituary.

Authorities have asked that anyone with footage of the crash contact the Gurnee Police Department.

“Anyone who may have captured the incident on a vehicle dash camera is asked to contact the Gurnee Police Department,” Gaylor said.

“Investigators are particularly interested in footage recorded near U.S. Route 41 and Grand Avenue around 5:25 p.m. on July 27,” Gaylor added.

A GoFundMe account created by Ocampo’s family, while he was hospitalized, said he was a father facing a long and difficult road ahead but was a “fighter.” His family called it a “horrible accident” that has caused an “extremely difficult time” for them.

A visitation, funeral service and burial were held at Warren Funeral Home and Warren Cemetery on Monday and Tuesday.

The crash remains under investigation by the Gurnee Police Department and MCAT.

A 30-year-old woman from Huntley died and two others were injured after the woman ran a stop sign and caused a three-vehicle crash involving a house in Grundy County Wednesday morning.

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Mazon, Coal City, Braceville and Verona-Kinsman fire departments, responded around 8:55 a.m. Wednesday to the area of West Gardner Road and South Johnny Run Road in unincorporated Kinsman for a vehicle crash with injuries.

Deputies arrived and found a three-vehicle crash.

A preliminary investigation showed a blue 2017 Honda Civic, driven by Rosemary Bolding, 30, of Huntley, was traveling northbound on Johnny Run Road.

The Honda failed to stop at the posted stop sign before entering the intersection at Gardner Road, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Honda was struck by a white 2024 Mercedes GLE, driven by a 60-year-old Seneca woman.

The sheriff’s office said the Mercedes had been traveling eastbound on Gardner Road and it came to rest in the ditch at the northeast corner of the intersection.

The occupants of the Mercedes, which had a 64-year-old Seneca male in the passenger seat, had exited the vehicle and suffered minor injuries.

The Honda continued from the intersection and came to rest approximately 500 feet away after striking the southeast corner of a residence in the 6900 block of West Gardner Road.

The Honda then struck the rear of an unoccupied vehicle parked in the driveway, the sheriff’s office said.

Bolding was located inside the vehicle and suffered significant injuries.

She was pronounced dead at the scene by Grundy County Coroner John Callahan.

Sheriff’s officials said the resident of the Gardner Road residence was home at the time of the crash but was not injured.

The crash remains under investigation by the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office Reconstruction Unit and the Grundy County Coroner’s Office.

The Village of Grayslake announced it was holding a special public comment session for discussion on a mega data center campus, only for officials to cancel the meeting after saying they were concerned about social media threats.

The Grayslake Village Board was set to hold the “one-time extended public comment session” at 6 p.m. Thursday for the public to speak on the approved T5 @ Chicago IV data center campus.

The session, which was announced Monday, was going to be held at the University Center of Lake County in Grayslake in the Great Room.

A short background presentation was planned with the public invited to provide their thoughts on the approved data center campus.

Special public safety measures were set to be in place at the meeting, along with all future board meetings, due to “ongoing law enforcement concerns” and “recent information.”

The measures will include pre-entry screening for meeting attendees and a prohibition on bags, backpacks and other similar items inside the village hall during board meetings.

The village announced on Wednesday that it was “regretfully” postponing the extended public comment session due to safety concerns.

The University Center of Lake County informed the village that it could no longer host the meeting.

“Recent social media posts, and other information, over the past 24 hours have raised safety concerns about the session. Area law enforcement agencies have expressed similar concerns. The wellbeing of our residents remains a top priority,” the village said.

“We thank the community for its patience as we assess the situation and determine next steps,” the village added.

Officials released screenshots of comments on social media that they say caused concern.

Lake County PSL posted a video on Instagram calling to stop the T5 data center. The video showed the village’s Tuesday board meeting.

The organization said residents packed the meeting to speak out against the data center. “Residents also condemned attempts by officials to suppress the growing mass movement. Attendees had to go through a metal detector. Speakers during public comment were not given a microphone.”

Some of the comments posted on the video said, “We need to bring back tar and feathering,” and “Bring back public executions for corrupt tyrants.”

Another commenter said, “Start going to their houses and hang them and burn them down watch how fast this chages tune and beat. Voices don’t matter buy ammo and buy lots of ammo.”

A group of Lake County residents has filed a lawsuit to block the 472-acre data center campus in Grayslake, which they call a project of “unprecedented scale” that was given approval without adequate public disclosure.

The Preservation of Community Well-being Collective LLC and nine residents of Lake County filed the suit on July 31 in Lake County Circuit Court.

The legal action challenges the Village of Grayslake’s approvals of the T5 @ Chicago IV data center campus.

The lawsuit complaint names the Village of Grayslake, T5 Data Centers, LLC, and Alter Asset Management Company as defendants.

It asks the court to declare the 2024 to 2025 approvals invalid, to void the development agreement between the village and T5 Data Centers and to permanently enjoin the village from issuing further permits in reliance on the approvals.

The T5 @ Chicago IV campus, as approved by the Grayslake Village Board between September 2024 and May 2025, calls for up to 472 acres of development, more than 10 million square feet of buildings and an electrical demand of approximately 1.55 gigawatts of power supplied by ComEd, with associated diesel backup generation infrastructure.

The data center will be located in Cornerstone, a $750 million, 641-acre mixed-use development near Peterson Road and Alleghany Road. Alter Asset Management Company is the master developer of Cornerstone and an affiliate of The Alter Group, which is the owner of the development.

An initial status hearing in the lawsuit has been set for 9 a.m. on October 30 in Lake County Courtroom 301.

Officials are warning the community after a resident witnessed a coyote take their dog from their yard in Lake Bluff Wednesday and carry it off into a wooded area, with the pet being presumed dead.

The Lake Bluff Police Department responded on Wednesday to a report from a Tangley Oaks resident about a coyote attack.

Village officials say a coyote took a small dog from a home’s yard and carried it into a wooded area.

Officers responded and searched the area but the dog has not been recovered and is believed to have died as a result of the incident.

The police department is working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to document the incident.

The incident is believed to be the first reported incident of its kind in Lake Bluff.

“Coyotes are a natural part of our region, and seeing one does not necessarily indicate a threat to people or pets. However, this incident is an important reminder to take precautions, particularly with small pets,” the village said in a statement.

Ken Robertson said the incident involved his family’s dog, Stanley. There was no fence in the yard and the coyote came from the woods on their property.

His wife was outside with their dogs approximately 10 feet away and witnessed it.

“She chased and screamed at the coyote, but it grabbed Stan and ran away. We have seen the coyotes in the neighborhood, so have been diligent about being with them when they go outside. This happened so fast, with a person right there,” Robertson said.

Officials recommend that residents keep small pets close and supervised when outdoors, including in fenced yards.

Those who encounter a coyote should not run. “Stand tall, make yourself appear larger, yell, clap your hands, wave your arms, or use a whistle or other noise-making device.”

People should continue making noise and appearing large until it leaves the area.

Residents should also never intentionally feed coyotes and ensure that outdoor food sources that may attract coyotes or their prey are removed.

Anyone who experiences a coyote behaving aggressively or posing an immediate threat to people should move to a safe location and call 911.

A 19-year-old student-athlete who is from Lake County and was a sophomore in college was among two who died when a vehicle crashed into multiple bicyclists in Tennessee Wednesday.

Milligan University, based in Elizabethton, Tennessee, announced Wednesday that they were “profoundly shocked and saddened” to share that members of their cycling team were involved in a crash with a vehicle while cycling in Hampton, Tennessee, on Wednesday morning.

Sophomores Haylan Engdahl, 19, and Brayden Rogers were killed in the crash and pronounced dead at the scene.

Multiple other Milligan cyclists were also seriously injured and seven were transported to Johnson City Medical Center for treatment.

“There are no words to adequately describe this level of loss. Our prayers are with all those impacted by this tragedy. Please keep the Milligan community in your prayers,” the university said in a statement.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol said the incident happened on Highway 19 near Simerly Creek Road in Carter County.

Multiple medical helicopters responded to the scene to transport injured victims to the hospital.

“First Responders and troopers are working at the scene. Drivers should avoid the area and use alternate routes until further notice,” the highway patrol said.

Ballad Health said two of the victims were stable and four were in the surgical intensive care unit.

Engdahl was a Winthrop Harbor native and graduated from Christian Life School in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 2025.

USA Cycling said they are “deeply saddened” to learn of the tragic crash involving the Milligan University Cycling team.

“Our hearts go out to the two student-athletes whose lives were taken far too soon, Haylan Engdahl and Brayden Rogers, as well as to the riders who were injured,” USA Cycling said.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Haylan and Brayden’s families, their teammates, friends, coaches, and the entire Milligan University community as they navigate this incredibly difficult time,” they said.

John Benfield, 69, of Newland, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and five counts of aggravated assault with a vehicle in connection with the crash.

Carter County District Attorney General Steven Finney said the cycling team involved was “elite” and “not a bunch of just club guys getting together to ride.” “They know what they’re doing. They rode in a peloton.”

Benfield remains held in custody and the Tennessee Highway Patrol continues to investigate the incident.

A family is raising funds for a funeral for a 34-year-old man who died after he crashed his motorcycle into a building in Fox Lake, with him being remembered for being “one of the most kind-hearted people.”

The Fox Lake Police Department and Fox Lake Fire Protection District responded around 2:55 a.m. on August 9 to East Grand Avenue and Keystone Avenue in downtown Fox Lake for a report of a single-vehicle motorcycle crash.

Police officers and firefighter/medics arrived to find a man who was unconscious on the ground but breathing after crashing his 2013 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, Fox Lake Police Sergeant Rick Howell said.

Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek identified the victim last week as Kyle Varno, 34, of Union Grove, Wisconsin.

Firefighter/medics immediately began providing medical treatment to Varno.

He was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with serious and life-threatening injuries.

No one else was injured.

Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton said Varno was the sole occupant of the motorcycle.

He later died on the evening of August 9 at Advocate Condell Medical Center in the intensive care unit, Banek said.

A preliminary coroner’s investigation indicated Varno died as a result of blunt force injuries to the head from the vehicle crash.

Spring Grove resident Jesse Clark said his brother was “one of the most kind-hearted people that any of us have ever met.”

“He helped anyone that needed it and right now he is the one who is in need,” Clark said.

A preliminary crash investigation shows Varno was driving his Harley-Davidson eastbound on Grand Avenue approaching Keystone Avenue.

The motorcycle then left the roadway, slid onto its side and struck the brick building at 62 East Grand Avenue, Howell said.

Due to the severity of the crash, the Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) of Lake County was requested to assist the Fox Lake Police Department with an investigation.

Grand Avenue between Rollins Road and Towne Centre Lane was shut down for several hours as investigators worked the scene.

Clark created a GoFundMe account, which has collected over $3,000 from dozens of donors. He said his family is raising money to cover the unexpected funeral and medical expenses.

Leftover funds will be sent to a charity in Varno’s honor.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Fox Lake Police Department and MCAT.

A Crystal Lake man upset about a process officer trying to serve papers at his home allegedly asked sheriff’s office dispatchers how the officer would react to a “gun pointed at his head.”

Dwayne A. Palmer, 49, of Crystal Lake, was charged with threatening a public official, a Class 3 felony, and disorderly conduct, a Class C misdemeanor.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Palmer indirectly conveyed a threat to a process server with the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office around 7 a.m. on August 6.

The complaint said Palmer made a verbal message containing a threat suggesting he would point a gun at the server’s head.

The threat was made because of the hostility of Palmer toward the server’s performance of his public duty, the complaint said.

Court documents said Palmer made the threats to the officer who was attempting to serve civil process at the home in the 4400 block of East Drive in Crystal Lake.

Palmer and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office dispatch spoke three times on the phone.

Palmer was informed that the officer was there to serve paperwork to someone who resided at the residence and that it was his job.

Palmer allegedly asked, during the third call, how the officer would react to a “gun pointed at his head,” according to documents. The man was heard telling the server, “get the f–k off my property.”

Court documents said Palmer then called the McHenry County Civil Process Office and asked how it would look if he answered his door with a gun pointed at the officer’s face.

Palmer has 33 charges in his criminal history, 27 convictions, six supervisions and nine occurrences of failing to appear in court.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office arrested Palmer and transported him to the McHenry County Jail.

The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain him pending trial, arguing he poses a danger to others.

McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb granted the request, noting that conditions of release would not mitigate the threat he poses to the victim, as it is their job to serve paperwork.

“Electronic monitoring will only keep this Defendant in his residence for certain periods of time each day, but the Defendant threatened to open his door and put a gun to the head of the officer who was knocking at his door,” Lamb said.

Palmer remains held in custody and is scheduled to appear in court again on September 4.

A Lake Forest woman was arrested for driving under the influence after authorities say she crashed her SUV completely into a commercial building in Highland Park.

The Highland Park Fire Department and Highland Park Police Department responded around 9:30 p.m. on August 11 to the 1200 block of Old Skokie Valley Road in Highland Park for a report of a vehicle crash.

Fire crews arrived and found a single-vehicle crash involving a building.

A Ford Bronco had crashed into the south side of 1200 Old Skokie Valley Road, which is a multi-tenant commercial building.

Tesla Motors, Bystol Performance Center and True Spec Golf are among the businesses located in the building.

A police report said Jennifer H. Milner, 49, of Lake Forest, was the driver of the Ford.

She was taken into custody after officers determined she was under the influence of alcohol, the report said.

There was also alcohol in the vehicle that was being illegally transported.

City of Highland Park Communications Manager Amanda Bennett said Milner was the sole occupant.

No injuries were reported to anyone in the building or to Milner, Bennett said. Fire crews initially were informed the driver was trapped but she was eventually able to get out on her own.

It is unknown whether Milner was trying to park when the crash occurred or driving in the parking lot.

Bennett said it is unclear what the woman was doing prior to driving into the building.

Milner was transported to the Highland Park Police Department where she was processed and charged with two counts of driving under the influence and illegal transportation of alcohol by a driver.

Milner was released with a notice to appear in court on October 2 in Waukegan.

The city’s Community Development staff responded for a preliminary inspection of the building.

The vehicle was removed by a tow truck and access to the damaged area was restricted until further inspection by a structural engineer, Bennett said.

A heavy police response was sent after a false report of a student armed with a weapon inside Buffalo Grove High School, prompting the school to go into “secure” mode Wednesday morning.

The Buffalo Grove Police Department said they responded around 11:43 a.m. Wednesday to Buffalo Grove High School, 1100 West Dundee Road, for a report of an armed person call.

Police officials said it was reported that a student had a potential weapon inside a restroom of the school.

Officers arrived and worked with school administrators to ensure the safety of students and staff.

The school was placed in a “Secure and Teach,” which is a safety procedure where doors are locked due to an outside concern while learning continues safely inside.

Officers conducted a systematic search of the building for the potential suspect.

The search was completed and officers determined there was no credible threat to the school or those inside the building, police officials said.

The school was cleared to resume normal operations around 12:15 p.m.

An initial investigation shows the threat notifications were made from anonymous numbers, consistent with other “swatting” type calls, police officials said.

Officers maintained an increased presence at the school for the remainder of the day.

Buffalo Grove High School Principal Jeff Wardle said staff was notified by the police department of the potential threat and the school was placed in a “Secure and Teach” mode following the report to allow for officers to conduct their search.

“Following the search, the police concluded that the threat was not credible, and the building was allowed to resume the school day at approximately 12:15 pm,” Wardle said.

“Additional police presence will remain on campus for the remainder of the day. We will update students and families in a follow-up communication later this evening,” the principal said in a message to parents.

The Buffalo Grove Police Department thanked the Arlington Heights Police Department for their rapid response and assistance.

“The BGPD takes all reports involving potential weapons or threats to schools seriously and will continue to work closely with school officials to ensure the safety of students, staff, and the community,” the agency said.

A husband has dropped a lawsuit after an investigation found Nicor Gas was not at fault and instead a family member had worked on a gas appliance, causing an explosion and fire that killed his wife and destroyed their home in Wonder Lake.

Wonder Lake resident Dean L. Patnaude filed a three-count lawsuit complaint in McHenry County Circuit Court on May 22.

The suit was filed on behalf of Patnaude by Crystal Lake-based law firm Balke & Williams and named Northern Illinois Gas Company, known as Nicor Gas Company, as the defendant.

The complaint said that Patnaude, 76, and his wife, Sandra Patnaude, 59, lived at a house in the 7400 block of Birch Drive in Wonder Lake.

Nicor Gas delivered, maintained and managed natural gas service to their property.

A natural gas leak occurred and led to an explosion at the home on May 17, causing Sandra Patnaude’s death, the complaint said.

The complaint said Nicor was negligent in monitoring the gas service at the property, inadequately responded to complaints of leaking gas before the explosion, provided inadequate warning to residents in the area of the dangerous leaking natural gas and allowed the gas service to remain in an unsafe condition.

Nicor Gas rebuffed the claim in late May, saying they assisted local and state authorities in the investigation and determined the event was not caused by Nicor’s facilities.

“Nicor Gas owns and operates more than 34,000 miles of underground pipes in Northern Illinois, including service lines from the street to meter; the company does not own or operate the lines that extend from the meter to natural gas appliances in a home or business,” a spokesperson previously told Lake and McHenry County Scanner.

“The safety of our customers, employees and the communities we serve is our highest priority and our thoughts are with the families affected by this event,” the spokesperson said.

An incident report from the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal said investigators found evidence of unfinished or in-progress work done on the water heater.

They determined the gas leak was from the piping of the water heater with an unknown ignition source but that it did not appear malicious.

Investigators interviewed one of the surviving injured victims who reported that a resident was working on replacing the water heater but stopped due to not having enough supplies to finish the task, the report said.

The person thought he turned the gas off properly and assumed the odor he smelled had only been from the initial phase of starting the project, the report said. The investigation report redacted the name of the family member who worked on the appliance.

The explosion happened around 7:50 p.m. that day and the Wonder Lake Fire Protection District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office arrived to find an active house fire with significant damage and multiple injured victims, according to Wonder Lake Fire Chief Matt Yegge.

Firefighters immediately initiated both fire suppression operations and emergency medical care for the injured, Yegge said.

The Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was activated to the box alarm to bring additional fire and EMS resources to the scene due to the severity of the incident.

Firefighters located an adult female victim dead at the scene, Yegge said, adding that there were two other victims still alive.

McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein said that his office was not initially able to positively identify the deceased victim due to the severity of the burns that required further testing.

Court records, along with Jason Cynowa, a resident of Wonder Lake since 1977, identified the woman as Sandra Patnaude.

The two surviving victims were Dean Patnaude and a 28-year-old man, the sheriff’s office said.

Cynowa told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the younger man was the couple’s son.

He called the incident the “most tragic thing” and a “horrific accident.”

“I have known these people for over 30 years and they are very good people and have been members of our community for probably as long as my family has been here,” Cynowa said at the time.

Cynowa said the family are customers of his business.

“My customers seem to always get close enough to me like friends and family. Dean works in our area almost every day and so do I. Just very, very good-hearted people,” he said.

A LifeNet medical helicopter was requested to land nearby at Wonder Lake Fire Station #1.

An ambulance transported the 28-year-old male victim to the landing zone and transferred them to the flight crew.

The helicopter flew the man to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, which has a specialized burn center, in critical condition, Yegge said.

The husband was initially transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry. Sheriff’s officials said he suffered serious injuries.

A LifeNet medical helicopter later transferred him from Northwestern Medicine Hospital to Loyola University Medical Center for further treatment.

The explosion and subsequent fire also caused damage to two neighboring houses.

Firefighters worked to contain the fire and prevent further extension, Yegge said.

The house that exploded was left completely leveled and destroyed, with large pieces of the home thrown around the area. The home’s detached garage remained standing.

Dean Patnaude, who is the administrator of his wife’s estate, sought an unspecified amount in damages from Nicor in excess of $50,000, the lawsuit complaint said.

The complaint said the man suffered “severe and permanent injuries” and was “hindered and prevented from attending to his usual duties and affairs and has lost the value of that time; he suffered great pain and anguish, both in mind and body, and will in the future continue to suffer, he suffered and will continue great disabilities and an inability to enjoy a normal life and will in the future continue to suffer, and he has further expended and became liable for large sums of money for medical care and services endeavoring to become healed and cured of his injuries.”

Court records show Dean Patnaude voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit on Friday after Nicor filed an answer along with a counterclaim to his suit.

The gas company said it is not responsible for natural gas lines downstream of the home’s gas meter.

Thomas Koch, who lives a half-mile away from the scene, told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that he heard the explosion, which sounded like a “massive boom” that shook the area.

“Shortly afterward, I could hear nonstop sirens as fire trucks and ambulances continued heading toward the scene. Seeing the large flames and thick smoke from that distance was honestly unbelievable,” he said.

Numerous other residents in Wonder Lake also reported hearing the explosion. “It shook our whole house 2.5 blocks away and all the neighbors felt it too,” one resident said.

Other residents who live in the area said they thought a vehicle had struck their house based on how loud the explosion was.

“We are two blocks away and it was raining paper on fire and a whole bunch of ashes. A bunch of mortgage papers,” another resident said.

Yegge said he could not confirm whether there was more than one explosion.

“The Wonder Lake Fire Protection District extends its deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragic event. We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to our mutual aid partners who responded and provided critical assistance,” the fire chief said in May.

Investigators from MABAS Division 5, the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation.

Yegge said he has been in the fire service for 30 years and has only seen a few incidents of this magnitude. “Very rare, very rare for you to see fire scenes like this.”

A Johnsburg man who died after being ejected into a wooded area during a motorcycle crash in Bull Valley was a father of six and had a grandchild on the way, as his family says he will be remembered.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and McHenry Township Fire Protection District responded around 10 p.m. on August 7 to the 800 block of Cherry Valley Road in Bull Valley for a report of a vehicle crash.

A 911 caller reported finding a motorcycle crashed in a ditch south of Bull Valley Road, according to emergency radio traffic.

The sheriff’s office said a preliminary investigation shows that a 2019 Honda Fury was traveling northbound on Cherry Valley Road.

McHenry County Coroner Dr. Michael Rein on Friday identified the driver as Donald Reeves, 63, of Johnsburg.

The Honda failed to negotiate a curve on Cherry Valley Road, exited the roadway to the east and struck a large rock.

Reeves, who was the sole occupant of the motorcycle, was ejected and came to rest in a wooded area, sheriff’s officials said.

Paramedics arrived and found Reeves unconscious and not breathing. They started lifesaving measures, including CPR.

Reeves was transported by ambulance to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry where he was pronounced dead.

A LifeNet medical helicopter was placed on standby initially and then canceled.

A helmet was not located at the scene, the sheriff’s office said. No other vehicles were involved.

Investigators say speed and alcohol are believed to be contributing factors in the crash.

The McHenry County Coroner’s Office responded to the hospital and took possession of Reeves for an autopsy.

Rein said the autopsy performed last week showed Reeves died as a result of blunt force injuries from the crash.

An obituary for Reeves said he was a father of six children and was a “proud” grandfather of a grandchild on the way.

Reeves was a partner of 14 years to a woman and was a “cherished” uncle to many nieces and nephews and a “friend to many,” his obituary said.

“Don had a passion for the things he loved. He enjoyed shooting pool, spending time out on the water boating, and riding his motorcycle. He was a proud Green Bay Packers fan and looked forward to football season,” his family said in his obituary.

“Don also had a deep appreciation for bald eagles and the American flag, reflecting his love for freedom and the country he called home. Above all, Don will be remembered by the many family members and friends whose lives he touched,” the obituary said.

Funeral services were being held privately but a celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

The investigation remains ongoing and is being conducted by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit and the McHenry County Coroner’s Office.

A convicted felon was arrested after prosecutors say he battered his wife multiple times despite hundreds of people present at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee before security intervened.

The Gurnee Police Department responded on August 8 to Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Parkway in Gurnee, for a report of a domestic battery.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Windmoeller said officers arrived and found Timothy Baldridge Jr., 44, of Memphis, Tennessee, belligerent and yelling at his wife.

Six Flags security had already separated the pair but Baldridge continued to act out, Windmoeller said.

Officers attempted to speak with the victim about what happened and Baldridge tried to follow them.

Officers had to order him to stay back. The victim told police she is likely going to divorce Baldridge and said that the two were in the water park earlier, Windmoeller said.

Baldridge became “enraged” and grabbed the victim by the hand, Windmoeller said.

The two were later in the parking lot by a fence near the Superman ride when Baldridge forcefully grabbed a towel that was around the woman’s neck and pulled it towards him, Windmoeller said.

Windmoeller said Baldridge grabbed the victim’s hand again and then later snatched her fanny pack and threw it at her, striking her in the body.

The incidents were captured on surveillance video and an employee of the park had also witnessed Baldridge forcefully grabbing the victim’s upper body earlier.

Two additional witnesses reported seeing Baldridge battering the victim, Windmoeller said.

Baldridge was uncooperative and initially told officers that nothing happened but then changed his story and said that the couple was arguing all day and it was not physical, Windmoeller said.

He was arrested and charged with one count of domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor.

“The Court should note that as to the factors for dangerousness this is a crime of violence. The Defendant struck the Victim in public, in full sight of multiple Witnesses. That type of action raises questions as to what the Defendant is willing to do in private,” Windmoeller said.

“Given the Defendant’s extensive violent criminal history and lack of ties to Lake County, there are no conditions or combinations of conditions this Court could impose that the Defendant is likely to follow or that would sufficiently mitigate the threat he poses to the Victim,” the prosecutor added.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Baldridge pending trial.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Garrett Miller said during a detention hearing that Baldridge has previously been convicted of robbery and possession of a firearm in the early 2000s.

He also has prior charges around that time for aggravated kidnapping and spent time in prison.

Miller said Baldridge was not deterred from committing the domestic battery in public despite “hundreds of people” being at Six Flags.

Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim denied the petition to detain during the detention hearing.

Nerheim said he disagreed with prosecutors, noting that Baldridge’s criminal history is from over 20 years ago, with the exception of a recent driving while license suspended.

Baldridge was placed on Level 2 pre-trial supervised release and ordered to have no contact with the victim or her residence and not possess any dangerous weapons.

He is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday for an arraignment hearing.

A judge refused to release an alleged gunman who fired shots in a residential area, creating an “extremely dangerous” situation, in McHenry before calling 911 and saying he was an “active shooter” while claiming he killed his mother.

Michael T. Cartier, 40, of McHenry, was charged with possession of a firearm while being ineligible, reckless discharge of a firearm, false report of an offense and illegal possession of ammunition.

The McHenry Police Department responded around 4:15 p.m. on August 7 to the 3200 block of Hunter Path in McHenry for a report of a disturbance and possible shots fired.

Prosecutors said multiple residents called 911 to report hearing gunfire coming from the area of Cartier’s home.

Witnesses who were outside at the time reported hearing bullets flying nearby.

Cartier also called 911 on himself and reported that he was an “active shooter” and had killed his mother, prosecutors said.

Cartier was inside his residence and refused to exit when law enforcement arrived, police said.

The incident prompted a significant law enforcement response, with officers establishing a perimeter around the residence and evacuating neighbors from nearby homes.

Information received indicated there were possibly additional armed subjects in the residence, which was later determined to be false, police officials said.

The McHenry Police Department requested the assistance of the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) Emergency Services Team (EST).

NIPAS is a joint venture of suburban municipal police agencies to provide mutual aid during dangerous situations.

The McHenry Police Department has been a long-time member of NIPAS.

A preliminary investigation determined that Cartier may have been suffering from a mental health crisis, police officials said.

Officers were unable to determine if there were any other occupants in the residence or if medical services were needed.

A two-hour standoff ensued before Cartier voluntarily exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident.

Prosecutors said he threw a handgun from the residence and surrendered to police.

Officers entered the home and discovered that no one else was inside and that Cartier had not killed or injured anyone.

Cartier admitted to law enforcement that he fired approximately six rounds both inside and outside the residence, including firing at a transformer in his yard and into the air, prosecutors said.

Cartier was transported to Northwestern Medicine Hospital in McHenry for treatment.

Police said a handgun was collected at the scene and placed into evidence.

McHenry Deputy Police Chief Thomas Walsh said it turned out that no one had been shot and no one else besides the man was inside the residence.

A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Cartier possessed the Springfield Hellcat handgun after having previously been denied the issuance of a Firearm Owner’s Identification card.

The complaint said Cartier endangered the safety of numerous people when he fired the gun several times.

Cartier fired several shots from the handgun into the floor of his home, “indiscriminately into the air” and towards an electrical transformer, the complaint said.

The complaint said the home is in a populated residential neighborhood surrounded by occupied, single-family homes.

The complaint also said a resident reported to police that they heard the bullets traveling through branches overhead.

The McHenry Police Department thanked the community for its patience during the incident.

“While the heavy police presence may be alarming to some, it is to ensure the safety of the community and the responding officers,” the agency said.

An arrest warrant was obtained for Cartier charging him with the felonies after he was hospitalized.

Cartier has since been released and was transported to the McHenry County Jail.

He appeared in Initial Appearance Court on Tuesday where the state’s attorney’s office filed a petition to detain him pending trial.

McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb granted the request after finding there were no conditions of release to mitigate the threat he poses.

McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese said she commends the responding officers for bringing an “extremely dangerous and volatile situation” to a peaceful conclusion.

“Firing a gun into the air in a residential neighborhood puts innocent lives at risk. We are incredibly grateful to all the officers who responded, patiently held the scene, communicated with this man, which ultimately resulted in him peacefully surrendering. Their professionalism and restraint brought an extremely dangerous situation to an end without anyone being hurt.”

Family and friends are mourning the “unimaginable” death of a 31-year-old mother of three who died from drowning while saving her son in a river in Libertyville, with them lauding her heroic actions.

Angelina Khalimendik, 31, of Hinsdale, was with her family at Independence Grove Forest Preserve, 16400 Buckley Road in Libertyville, on Sunday evening, according to Lake County Forest Preserves Police Chief Ron Davis and Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.

Davis said the woman had entered the Des Plaines River in an attempt to assist her son in the water.

Khalimendik was successful in helping her son safely reach a family member but soon went underwater herself, Davis said.

The Libertyville Fire Department and Lake County Forest Preserves Police Department responded around 7 p.m. after receiving a call for a water rescue.

Multiple fire departments were dispatched with boats and divers but the incident was downgraded after it was reported that the victims were out of the water.

Davis said a family member and nearby bystanders rushed to rescue Khalimendik from the water.

Emergency crews arrived and paramedics began treating Khalimendik at the scene.

Fire department radio traffic indicated CPR was being performed on the woman, who was unconscious and not breathing.

Davis said paramedics transported Khalimendik to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where she was pronounced dead.

The incident happened in the Des Plaines River, which flows through Forest Preserve property and falls under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, according to Lake County Forest Preserves Media & Community Relations Specialist Kim Mikus.

Khalimendik and her family were on Forest Preserves property before entering the river, Mikus said.

The woman’s employer, Hinsdale resident Teddy Wozny, who owns an accounting firm, said Khalimendik’s son Johnny got into trouble in the water and she went in after him “without a second thought.”

“Johnny is alive today because his mother chose him, without hesitation, in the last moments of her life. Angie was not just a coworker to those around her. Angie was family,” Wozny said.

Wozny said he had been neighborhood friends with Khalimendik for years before joining his team where she became a “constant, warm, generous presence in our lives and in the lives of our children.”

“Anyone who knew Angie knew someone kind, wonderful, hardworking, and deeply selfless. In the end, Angie gave everything to save her son,” Wozny said.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragic death in the Des Plaines River near Libertyville on Sunday evening. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” Davis said.

An autopsy was performed on Monday morning and the preliminary results indicate Khalimendik died from drowning, Banek said.

Wozny said Khalimendik was a mother of three — two sons and a daughter — who are 7, 9 and 10 years old.

He said the family is left to navigate “the unimaginable.”

“… grieving a mother, a daughter, a sibling, a wife, and a friend, while also facing funeral expenses and the enormous adjustment of life without Angie. Angie’s three elementary-aged children need support now more than ever,” Wozny said.

A GoFundMe created for the funeral expenses has already raised over $30,000 from more than 300 donors.

No funeral arrangements have been announced yet.

Davis said that the area has experienced heavy rain recently and the river level is high and contains lots of debris, like fallen trees and branches under the surface. He called for people to stay out of the water.

The Lake County Forest Preserves Police and Lake County Coroner’s Office continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident.

The owner of the Trump Truth Store in Crystal Lake has pleaded guilty in a traffic case that led to her arrest for failing to appear in court, with viral video of the arrest showing her loudly screaming and claiming she would sue police.

Lisa Fleischmann, 53, of Algonquin, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to driving while license suspended as part of a plea agreement in DuPage County Circuit Court.

Court records show an additional charge of operating a vehicle with canceled, suspended or revoked registration was dismissed.

A judge sentenced Fleischmann to six months of court supervision.

Fleischmann, who is the owner of the Trump Truth Store in Crystal Lake, said in a Facebook post after her guilty plea that it is “mind boggling” how the court system treats people.

“I was just seven minutes late to court, and they issued a warrant for my arrest. When I got into the courtroom, they handcuffed me again. I asked why, and the officer said, ‘We don’t know what kind of weapons you have on you.’ How does that make any sense when you have to go through the metal detectors take off your belt your shoes,” she said.

Fleischmann had previously failed to appear in court in December for one of the hearings in the case and a judge issued an arrest warrant for her.

Fleischmann released bodycam videos earlier this month showing her arrest on May 26 as a result of that warrant.

She said the incident was the result of an unresolved paperwork issue after she received a citation for driving without a license in late December 2024 that escalated despite her “repeated efforts to resolve it across multiple jurisdictions.”

Fleischmann said she appeared in DuPage County Circuit Court in September 2025, October 2025 and twice in November 2025 regarding the traffic offense.

Fleischmann said she was directed to clear up a related violation in Rolling Meadows and McHenry County.

Both courts later dismissed the charges, including driving without a valid license, after determining the issue stemmed from a failure to provide proof of insurance, she said, adding that her vehicle registration was later reinstated.

Fleischmann said she returned to DuPage County Circuit Court with proof that the matter had been resolved in the other counties but the judge declined to dismiss the charges.

“He stated he was king of the castle and was not going to dismiss those charges,” Fleischmann said, adding that another judge and the state’s attorney had previously indicated they would dismiss the charges once the issue was cleared elsewhere.

“What would be the point of going back four times if that wasn’t the end plan?” she said. “It’s over an hour drive with somebody who has chronic back pain. Driving is very difficult and exhausting.”

“Both Cook County and Mchenry County dismissed the charges that were associated even driving without a license. Because it was all about paperwork I didn’t actually violate any driving laws to injure anybody. Why is DuPage county Not giving me my date to testify without throwing me back in jail. They asked me if I was being persuaded in anyway of pleading guilty. While I’m standing there in handcuffs, What do you think?” Fleischmann said on social media last week.

Fleischmann said she never received a certified letter notifying her that her license had been revoked and believed the matter had been fully resolved.

Fleischmann was arrested on the failure to appear warrant after she finished dinner at Olive Garden with her daughter and a friend.

The traffic stop took place after an officer saw her license plate was bent while she was driving near the former Spring Hill Mall in the West Dundee and Carpentersville area.

The bodycam video shows officers interacting with Fleischmann as she sat in her car before telling her “bad news” that there was a valid warrant for her arrest.

Officers repeatedly told her to step out of the car as Fleischmann seemed confused about why she had a warrant.

Officers handcuffed her and Fleischmann began saying, “This is ridiculous” and “This is unbelievable” as she asked what she did wrong.

“I have done nothing to break a law… I didn’t even do anything,” Fleischmann said, adding that she could not wait for the arrest to get in the media.

Moments later, the video showed Fleischmann saying the handcuffs hurt and demanding them be removed.

Fleischmann began tensing up and screaming about the handcuffs. “This f—ing hurts,” she said while screaming, “get this thing off of me.”

“I swear to god, I swear to god, I will sue the s–t out of you,” Fleischmann could be heard saying as she screamed before being placed into a squad car.

Fleischmann was transported to the Carpentersville Police Department and continued to complain that officers had tightened the handcuffs too tightly.

“The pain inflicted was so bad I screamed, and four cops looked at me like I was nuts,” she said after the incident.

Fleischmann was transported to the DuPage County Jail where she was held overnight before appearing in court where a judge released her with a new court date.

She said many other people were also in custody for similar situations. “Had I been arrested on a Friday, I could’ve spent four days in jail waiting to see the judge,” she said.

Fleischmann said she saw an eight-months-pregnant woman who had spent more than 48 hours in custody awaiting a judge for missing court for a traffic violation.

“This is petty crime and in my case it was just a paperwork issue,” she said. “It is really unbelievable people are being arrested for a traffic violation and missing court.”

Fleischmann said she is a single mother suffering from chronic back pain with a demanding schedule, including managing her store, which often leaves little time for things like checking the mail.

“Jail is a short-term place for most people who are only charged, not proven guilty,” she said, adding that the jail procedures and treatment of detainees were “horrific” but the jail was clean.

Fleischmann said she received no accommodations despite being legally deaf when she does not have hearing aids.

She also complained that the meal service was served at 4 a.m. and detainees who missed the delivery received nothing until the next meal, which did not conform to her vegetarian diet.

Fleischmann said she was surprised that anyone could file a FOIA request to obtain videos of her arrest. She also said that had she known it was legal, she would have released the videos even sooner.

After her guilty plea last week, Fleischmann said she was persuaded to plead guilty because they had handcuffed her in court.

“But now they handcuffed me and let me sit there with the handcuffs on the entire time. So I wanna know how that didn’t persuade me of pleading guilty. The threat of them throwing me back in lock up,” she said. “I had no real choice but to plead guilty.”

Fleischmann has repeatedly made news headlines over her controversial store in Crystal Lake, which sells apparel, cups, mugs, posters, flags and other memorabilia related to President Donald Trump.

A grand opening for the store, located at 829 South Virginia Road in Crystal Lake, was held in May to commemorate the store’s relocation from Huntley.

The new store had temporarily closed in March due to a lack of sales and previously was located at 10890 North Route 47 in Huntley.

The store closed its Huntley location in July after the owner of the building filed to evict Fleischmann from the property in March 2025.

She faced eviction for displaying Trump signs, flags, table chairs, a Trump inflatable and a sign on her trailer outside the store.

The owner said in the eviction complaint that Fleischmann refused to keep her merchandise inside her store despite numerous requests by the landlord and the Village of Huntley.

Fleischmann said Trump triggers people and that is the part she “loves,” saying she does not run the store for money.

A contractor, who is in his 20s, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition after he was electrocuted by a power line and found unresponsive in Gurnee Tuesday morning.

The Gurnee Fire Department and Gurnee Police Department responded around 10:58 a.m. Tuesday to the 3600 block of Country Club Avenue in Gurnee for a report of a person down.

Gurnee Fire Department Battalion Chief Tim Steffens said a neighbor called 911 to report seeing a person possibly struck by lightning.

The neighbor reported seeing a flash of light and a man down on the ground.

Police officers arrived and found the victim unconscious and not breathing, Steffens said.

ComEd was requested with an expedited response as a precautionary measure.

Firefighters and paramedics arrived and took over lifesaving measures.

Steffens said the victim, a man in his mid to late 20s, was brought to an ambulance where paramedics worked to revive him.

The ambulance transported him to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.

The man regained a pulse when he got to the hospital but Steffens said his long-term prognosis is unclear.

Steffens said it was determined there was no lightning strike involved and that the victim appeared to be working as a contractor.

The contractor was measuring something related to fiber optic work.

He had been holding an approximately 25-foot-long metal measuring stick when he accidentally touched ComEd’s primary line approximately 30 feet in the air, causing him to be electrocuted, Steffens said.

No power outage was reported and there was no visible damage to anything.

The police department and ComEd remained at the scene investigating after the fire department left.

The incident remains under investigation by the Gurnee Police Department.

A man in his 30s, suspected to be under the influence, was flown to the hospital in serious condition after the sheriff says his motorcycle crashed off the roadway near Marengo Monday evening.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts responded around 10:19 p.m. Monday to the area of Route 23 and Poplar Road in unincorporated Marengo for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.

Fire crews arrived and reported finding a single-vehicle motorcycle crash off the roadway east of Route 23 on Poplar Road.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Marengo Police Department and McHenry County Conservation Police Department also responded to assist.

A preliminary investigation showed that a 2014 Harley-Davidson Touring was traveling eastbound on Poplar Road, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.

The section of roadway where the Harley-Davidson was traveling is asphalt but changes to a gravel roadway.

The operator, a 39-year-old Marengo man, lost control of the motorcycle and it exited the roadway to the north, the sheriff’s office said.

The motorcycle rolled over and the driver was ejected. He was the sole occupant of the Harley-Davidson.

A LifeNet medical helicopter was requested and landed in the roadway at the scene.

Sheriff’s officials said the man was transported by the helicopter to Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital — Riverside in Rockford where he was listed in serious condition.

A helmet was not located at the scene.

Alcohol and speed are believed to be contributing factors in the crash, sheriff’s officials said.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit responded to the scene and the roadway was shut down for an extended period for the investigation.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Major Traffic Crash Investigation Unit.