Three suspects were arrested, with one running nearly two miles, after sheriff’s deputies and a canine unit interrupted a burglary in progress at Lambs Farm near Libertyville Sunday evening.
The Lake County Sheriff’s 911 Center received a call around 11:20 p.m. Sunday from a person who rented a flatbed trailer to someone who failed to return it.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said the owner of the flatbed had a GPS device equipped on it.
The owner informed 911 dispatchers that the flatbed was at a business in the 14200 block of West Rockland Road in unincorporated Libertyville.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to Lambs Farm, 14245 West Rockland Road, and observed two subjects near the trailer, Covelli said.
The two were identified as Corey Dismukes, 56, of Chicago, and Emmanuel Harper, 45, of Milwaukee, WI, near the trailer.
They were loading two skid steers from the property onto the trailer.
Prosecutors said they initially tried claiming they were given permission by the property owner to be there to do work, which the owner denied.
Sheriff’s deputies further investigated and determined that Harper and Dismukes were actively stealing the skid steers, Covelli said.
Deputies reviewed video surveillance from the business and determined a third subject ran just as they arrived.
Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Simba responded and conducted a track of the third subject and a drone was also deployed.
Covelli said the canine located the third suspect approximately 1.5 miles away hiding in a forest preserve.
That suspect, James Yancey, 35, of Chicago Heights, was arrested without further incident.
Lambs Farm is a non-profit organization that helps hundreds of adults with developmental disabilities.
“From our 911 telecommunicators, to our responding deputies, and our canine team, our staff worked together to stop a burglary in progress,” Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said.
“This is the type of teamwork, professionalism, and dedication our employees demonstrate every day to help keep our community safe. I am proud of our team, grateful the property owner called us immediately, and pleased we were able to recover all of the stolen property,” Idleburg said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the facts and circumstances of the case and approved the charges of burglary and felony theft against Dismukes, Harper and Yancey.
The three suspects are scheduled to appear in First Appearance Court on Monday morning.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Libertyville Police Department for its assistance during the incident.