Markeece M. Muhammad, 23, (left) and Kwantrell C. Williams, 24, both of Zion

Police say a Zion man, with the help of his half-brother, committed approximately 60 burglaries in Lake County and bordering counties in a “massive crime spree” dating back to last summer.

In November, police served a search warrant at a residence where Kwantrell C. Williams, 24, and Markeece M. Muhammad, 23, resided in the 2300 block of Joppa Avenue in Zion.

During that warrant, officers recovered guns and drugs from the home and began an investigation, Zion Police Department Lt. Paul Kehrli told Lake and McHenry County Scanner.

On February 24, officers arrested Muhammad in the 2300 block of Joppa Avenue in Zion.

Later the same day, they learned that Williams, who was wanted on four different warrants, was staying at the Travelodge, 3633 North Lewis Avenue in Waukegan.

The Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) Emergency Services Team assisted the Zion Police Department and Waukegan Police Department in the arrest of Williams.

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The SWAT team and police officers evacuated hotel guests and staff before attempting to make contact with Williams.

Williams barricaded himself in a room at the hotel and led police on an hours-long standoff that eventually ended in Williams’ arrest.

Officers found two guns, cocaine and other evidence in the room.

Kehrli said that Williams was behind approximately 60 burglaries throughout five counties in Illinois and Wisconsin, including Lake, McHenry, Cook, DuPage, Kenosha and Racine.

In Lake County, the burglaries occurred in multiple different towns, including Zion, Grayslake, Lake Villa and Gurnee.

Williams, who allegedly began committing the crime spree in the summer of 2021, would typically case the businesses before going back at night to burglarize them, Kehrli said.

Williams would steal vehicles during the burglaries and drive them to a storage facility before later dumping them, Kehrli said.

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Kehrli said that Muhammad, who is a half-brother to Williams, served as a getaway driver at times but also participated in some of the burglaries.

Williams evaded arrest numerous times before being arrested in February in Waukegan.

He was transported to the Lake County Jail at the time of his arrest and later transferred to the McHenry County Jail for charges out of Crystal Lake.

Williams is facing over 30 charges for allegedly burglarizing five businesses in Crystal Lake, stealing cars and fleeing from police in McHenry County.

On Wednesday, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a controlled substance against Williams.

Muhammad was charged in February with manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Charges relating to the burglaries are pending against the two.

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Kehrli called the case a “massive crime spree” and said that it could be screened for federal charges by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.