Hundreds of people looted dozens of businesses and caused property damage as others attacked police officers with bricks, bottles and rocks overnight in Waukegan.
What started as peaceful protests in Lake County on Sunday turned into looting and rioting during the evening and overnight hours in Waukegan and Beach Park.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said that they sent dozens of sheriff’s deputies to assist the Waukegan Police Department with hundreds of looters.
Approximately two dozen businesses were broken into and looted, and somewhere around a dozen of people were arrested by police, Lake County Sheriff Spokesman Sgt. Christopher Covelli said.
Social media videos captured some of the looting and rioting. In one video, numerous people broke the windows to the rue21 store at 1321 North Lewis Avenue in Waukegan and stole armfuls of clothes before running out of the store.
A large amount of property was damaged and stolen throughout the night in Waukegan but a loss estimate was not immediately available.
Five Lake County Sheriff’s Office squad cars sustained significant damage from people who intentionally damaged the cars, Covelli said.
Rioters threw rocks, bricks and bottles at police officers; however, no officers were injured.
“The members of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office will continue increased countywide patrols to protect the safety of our residents and businesses. The sheriff’s office will continue working closely with our local and regional law-enforcement partners,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement Monday morning.
“I am beyond grateful for the men and women of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and all of our area law-enforcement personnel who are working diligently to keep the community safe. We will remain steadfast in our efforts to protect the people and property of Lake County,” Sheriff John Idleburg said.