Prosecutors say a convicted felon grabbed a woman’s neck while armed with a gun while a child was in the home before leading a SWAT team on an eight-hour standoff in Round Lake Beach.
Luis Pena, 35, whose town of residence is unknown, was charged with felon in possession of a weapon, a Class 3 felony, and domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor.
The Round Lake Beach Police Department responded around 3:37 p.m. Thursday to the 300 block of Beachview Drive in Round Lake Beach for a report of a disturbance at a residence.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Kailey Hopkins said officers arrived and spoke with the female victim who said her minor daughter was still in the home with Pena.
The woman stated that Pena — her boyfriend — had been drinking and was intoxicated when she came home earlier in the day, Hopkins said.
They had a verbal altercation and she told him to leave but he grabbed her neck and threw a phone at her, Hopkins said.
She left to go to the gas station and came back home, at which time Pena came to her car to continue the altercation, Hopkins said.
The victim saw Pena display a firearm and he broke her side mirror, Hopkins said. She believed he was going to harm her with the gun.
The woman stayed in the car and called the police. Officers saw Pena go into the house and he told the juvenile to leave the house.
The child had locked herself in a bathroom because she was scared, Hopkins said.
Officers arrived, established a perimeter and began efforts to communicate with Pena and secure his voluntary surrender but he remained inside and refused to exit, police officials said.
Road closures were implemented in the area, including a portion of Cedar Lake Road.
Officers also learned that Pena was wanted on an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon warrant out of Lake County for a separate case.
The Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) Emergency Services Team (EST) was called to the scene to support the incident.
Police issued a community alert during the incident warning residents to avoid the area due to the heavy police activity.
The Round Lake Beach Police Department and NIPAS EST continued to communicate with Pena to secure a peaceful surrender and prioritize the safety of the family and residents.
The standoff lasted more than eight hours and came to a safe conclusion just before midnight.
Officers obtained a warrant and found Pena under the stairwell. A firearm was located in a safe.
Pena made untruthful statements to officers after his arrest that the car mirror had been damaged prior to their verbal altercation but video surveillance confirmed that the mirror was intact as of Wednesday, Hopkins said.
Pena has previously been convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm by a street gang member in Lake County in 2014, which stemmed from a shooting.
Pena was transported to the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan for a First Appearance Court hearing on Friday morning.
He appeared for a detention hearing on Friday afternoon before Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim where prosecutors successfully argued for Pena to be detained pending trial.
“The defendant has demonstrated through his actions in this matter and given his pending warrant, that he is a danger to this victim and the community at large. Furthermore, he has also demonstrated that he would not comply with court orders in that he was not allowed to possess a firearm and did so anyway,” Hopkins said.
Pena remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on December 17 for a preliminary hearing.
“The Round Lake Beach Police Department appreciates the patience and cooperation of community members who avoided the area and followed public safety instructions while the incident was ongoing. We would also like to thank our surrounding partner agencies and the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System (NIPAS) for their support and assistance,” the police department said in a statement.