A man allegedly claimed to be part of a Mexican drug cartel and threatened to burn a Lake County sheriff’s deputy and his family alive after the deputy arrested him in Libertyville.
Omar Herrera-Loeza, 36, of Hainesville, was charged with threatening a public official, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, disregarding a traffic control device and improper lane usage.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded on November 8 to the area of Independence Grove Forest Preserve, 16400 Buckley Road in unincorporated Libertyville, for a complaint of an intoxicated driver.
A sheriff’s deputy arrived and saw Herrera-Loeza’s Ford F-150 stopped in the roadway nearby, just 20 feet from the intersection of Buckley Road and Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris.
The light cycled red and the deputy saw Herrera-Loeza drive through the red light.
Katris said Herrera-Loeza put his hazard lights on and continued to drive before braking and straddling the lane.
Two cars driving on the roadway swerved in order to avoid a potential collision with Herrera-Loeza’s Ford.
A traffic stop was conducted and Herrera-Loeza showed clues of impairment with his intoxication being “obvious,” Katris said.
Herrera-Loeza “reeked of alcohol” and was arrested for driving under the influence for the third time.
Katris said Herrera-Loeza began kicking inside the back of the squad car and repeatedly threatening the deputy.
Herrera-Loeza reportedly told the deputy he was part of the cartel, swore at the deputy and told the deputy he did not know who he was messing with.
Herrera-Loeza threatened the deputy multiple times that he was going to burn him alive, Katris said. The suspect then said he was going to find the deputy’s family and burn them alive, Katris said.
Katris said Herrera-Loeza made the threats repeatedly and then also said he was going to skin the deputy alive and do the same to the deputy’s family.
“Deputy [name] took these multiple threats as more than just a drunk running his mouth off as they were specific and directly made to him and his family. Deputy [name] is concerned for his safety and that of his family,” Katris said.
“The Defendant is dangerous. His actions on the road were dangerous and his statements were made to intimidate and prevent Deputy [name] from performing his official duties by threatening retaliatory harm to Deputy [name] and his family,” Katris said.
Katris argued that Herrera-Loeza’s self-professed association with the Mexican narco terrorist cartels makes the threats “all more real and possible,” as this is common practice in Mexico to assassinate police and political figures who stand in the cartel’s way.
“The Defendant is unlikely to follow court conditions because he has associated himself with an organization that prides itself on not following court conditions,” Katris said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Herrera-Loeza pending trial and Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the request following a detention hearing.
The judge noted that Herrera-Loeza made very specific threats to the sheriff’s deputy and his family and it was clear that Herrera-Loeza suffers from an alcohol problem.
A public defender for Herrera-Loeza said her client is a United States citizen.
Herrera-Loeza has previously been charged with sexual abuse of a child where he was convicted of a reduced charge of battery.
Herrera-Loeza remains held in the Lake County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on January 5 for a case management conference.