Officials say a suspect remains on the run after he stole a car and fled from deputies, prompting an hours-long search with heavy police activity in Port Barrington on Wednesday.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 4 a.m. Wednesday to the 700 block of Brighton Circle in Port Barrington for a report of an attempted criminal trespass to vehicle in progress.
A resident called 911 to report they saw a male subject come up to their vehicle, attempt to enter it and then walk away when they realized it was locked.
The caller reported that the suspect went to their neighbor’s house and was attempting to enter a car there, according to police radio traffic.
Sheriff’s deputies responding to the call encountered the suspect, who had stolen a silver Honda and was fleeing the area.
Deputies reported the suspect drove northbound onto Camden Lane and passed over Rawson Bridge Road.
The suspect ditched the Honda at a home in the 60 block of Camden Court and ran away on foot.
A Lake County Sheriff’s Office canine unit was requested to the scene along with additional police units to conduct a search.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office issued a community alert warning about heavy police activity in the area and asking people to avoid the area until further notice.
Deputies reported they set up a perimeter and began searching the area, including with the use of a drone.
Just after 6 a.m., the search effort was discontinued and the suspect was not located, according to police radio traffic.
McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Communications Specialist Emily Baker said that the search was ended after several hours and the suspect was not located.
The incident remains under investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Unit, which is working to identify the suspect.