A judge allowed pre-trial release for a Lake Zurich man being held on armed robbery charges after he allegedly stole a skid steer and threatened to shoot a person near Vernon Hills.
Adam Frank, 41, of Lake Zurich, was charged with armed robbery, aggravated robbery, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, theft over $500 and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Frank has been held in the Lake County Jail since August following his arrest.
The charges stem from a report of an armed robbery that the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to around 3:15 a.m. on August 18 in the 24800 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in unincorporated Vernon Hills.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said at the time that deputies arrived and met with the victim, a 40-year-old man.
The man lives at the property and woke up when he heard his skid steer being driven off of the property.
Prosecutors said the victim got into his truck and drove approximately a half-mile after the skid steer.
The victim was confronted by the offender, later identified as Frank.
Covelli said Frank displayed a firearm and told the victim that if he called the police he would shoot the victim.
Frank exited the skid steer and fled on foot.
Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Drako and Mundelein Police Department Canine Ranger both responded.
The duo tracked Frank for approximately a mile and located him hiding in a wetland area. He surrendered when the canines confronted him.
Frank was found to be in possession of a loaded semi-automatic pistol, Covelli said.
Prosecutors said the victim positively identified Frank as the offender during a showup.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak in August ordered Frank held on a $500,000 bond.
Frank has been held in the Lake County Jail and has been unable to post bond.
Bruce Brandwein, Frank’s attorney, filed a motion for him to be released after the Pretrial Fairness Act of the SAFE-T Act went into effect last month.
Prosecutors then filed a petition to detain him pending trial.
Brandwein argued during a detention hearing this month that Frank should not have been charged with armed robbery because the machinery was taken from a yard with no imminent threat.
Brandwein said Frank, who is a U.S. veteran, only has misdemeanor arrests in his criminal background and would appear at future court hearings if released.
Potkonjak granted the motion to release Frank after finding there were pretrial release conditions that could be imposed to mitigate the community safety risk.
The judge ordered Frank to not possess firearms or dangerous and to have no contact with the victim.
Frank is scheduled to appear in court again on November 9 for a preliminary hearing.