A man is in custody after police say he held his ex-girlfriend and her 4-year-old captive for several hours on Thursday in Round Lake Park and beat them.
Gary E. Reiher, 33, of the 500 block of Eisenhower Street in Marengo, was charged with home invasion, domestic battery and violation of an order of protection.
Police were called at 10:50 a.m. Thursday to an open line 911 call that was tracked to the 300 block of Highmoor Drive in Round Lake Park.
Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko said that a 31-year-old woman told police she and her 4-year-old son were held captive for several hours by Reiher, who is her former boyfriend.
The victim said that Reiher had forced his way into her home around 4 a.m. and hit her repeatedly. He also had prevented her from calling 911 by dropping her cell phone into a toilet, Filenko said.
The victim was able to find an old cell phone which she used to call 911. Reiher fled out a rear window before police arrived.
A Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Unit was called to the scene to help search for the man. Reiher was found about 25 yards away hiding under a deck.
The victim was treated at the scene by paramedics for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Reiher appeared in bond court Friday morning and was ordered held on a $300,000 bond. Additional charges are expected to be filed against Reiher, officials said.