A wanted Round Lake Beach man was arrested following a two-hour standoff after a SWAT forced entry to his hotel room, at which point the man used his infant as a human shield, prosecutors said.
George H. Tieman, 29, of Round Lake Beach, was charged with manufacturing or delivery of fentanyl, possession of a controlled substance, resisting a peace officer and two counts of child endangerment.
Officers were at Walmart Supercenter, 3900 Fountain Square Place in Waukegan, on August 9 when they were made aware of a theft in progress.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Ayah Elfarra said Tieman removed a watch from its packaging and put it on his wrist.
Tieman allegedly walked out of the store without paying for the item.
Officers arrested Tieman and found him with approximately 80 blue pills in his pocket, Elfarra said.
Tieman admitted he purchased the pills for himself and his girlfriend. The crime lab confirmed the 87 pills were fentanyl, Elfarra said.
Officers reported the quantity of pills would be too many for personal use.
Tieman was not charged in connection with the drugs until earlier this month when a warrant was obtained for his arrest.
The North Chicago Police Department learned from the Waukegan Police Department on December 14 that Tieman was staying at Red Carpet Inn, 3207 Buckley Road in North Chicago.
Elfarra said Tieman was seen on surveillance video and when officers arrived they confirmed he was inside the room.
Officers made contact with Tieman from outside the hotel room window.
They tried to take him into custody but he barricaded himself inside the room, Elfarra said.
A SWAT team was requested and officers attempted to negotiate with Tieman to get him to surrender.
Tieman refused to exit the room and officers eventually forced entry into the room, Elfarra said.
Elfarra said Tieman picked up an infant and held the infant up between him and the officers to shield himself.
The standoff lasted two hours before officers were able to arrest Tieman.
Tieman has six active cases in Lake County and Elfarra said he is a willful flight risk and a safety risk to the community.
Lake County Judge Ari Fisz granted a petition to detain Tieman in the Lake County Jail pending trial.
“Anybody that is going to be selling or delivering fentanyl — or using fentanyl — would be a danger to the community,” Fisz said, adding that Tieman is a threat to his children as well.
Tieman is scheduled to appear in court again on January 11 for a preliminary hearing.