A SWAT team arrested a Waukegan man following a standoff after he allegedly made detailed statements threatening to kill his parents and fatally shoot a state employee.
Michael L. Brousseau, 34, of Waukegan, was charged with threatening a public official, a Class 3 felony, and harassment through electronic communications, a Class 4 felony.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Manuel Mandujano said Brousseau had been working with a staffing agency last month.
Brousseau had a dispute about his compensation and began sending threatening emails to the staffing agency, Mandujano said.
He also allegedly sent threatening emails to an employee of the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL).
“… I will kill. I’m going to get a gun and shoot you in the face. I’m f—ing serious. This is insanity,” the email said.
Brousseau then mentioned that he was “still fuming” because his life was on hold due to the situation, Mandujano said.
He also blamed his parents for the issue and allegedly said, “I’m planning on killing them too. That’s the trajectory they’re on right now. It’s not a threat, it’s a promise. I guarantee it. You will be dead as in unalived. My mom will go before my dad.”
The IDOL employee was scared for his life and notified his superiors, Mandujano said.
Brousseau’s parents told investigators that their son has threatened them in the past but has not acted on it.
The parents said they believe Brousseau has undiagnosed mental health issues, Mandujano said.
Illinois State Police made contact with Brousseau last Monday at his residence in the 500 block of Baldwin Avenue in Waukegan.
Mandujano said Brousseau refused to exit and officers obtained an arrest warrant. A SWAT team was also called to the scene.
He was eventually taken into custody by the SWAT team and transported to the Lake County Jail.
Brousseau admitted to officers that he sent the emails and was depressed.
Mandujano argued during a detention hearing that Brousseau is mentally unstable and has convincingly expressed his intent to kill the state employee and Brousseau’s parents.
Lake County Judge D. Christopher Lombardo granted prosecutors’ petition to detain Brousseau pending trial.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 20 in the case.