A Lake Villa man was arrested after allegedly unlawfully videotaping a woman while she was in a changing room at Gurnee Mills mall, with the victim confronting the suspect and taking his phone. The Gurnee Police Department responded around 12:30 p.m. on August 30 to Gurnee Mills, 6170 Grand Avenue in Gurnee, for a report […]
Sam Borcia
Sam Borcia is the CEO and Publisher of Lake and McHenry County Scanner based in Gurnee, Illinois. His focus is reporting on local news covering crime, government, traffic and more around Lake County, Illinois and McHenry County, Illinois. Sam founded Lake and McHenry County Scanner in January 2012 and has extensive experience covering news. His reporting has garnered coverage by major national and international outlets. He graduated from DePaul University in Chicago. You can get in touch with Sam by emailing sborcia@lakemchenryscanner.com.
Posted inLake County
15-year-old boy flown to hospital after accidentally shooting himself, causing critical injury in Waukegan
A medical helicopter was called to fly a 15-year-old boy to a children’s hospital after police say he accidentally shot himself, resulting in critical injury, and tried to cover up the incident in Waukegan. The Waukegan Police Department and Waukegan Fire Department responded around 10:15 a.m. on September 6 to the 500 block of Lakehurst […]
Posted inLake County
Mother accused of pushing young child, causing her to hit head on table in Winthrop Harbor
A mother fought with officers when she was being arrested for allegedly pushing her child, causing her to hit her head on a table, after the girl tried to stop her mother from hurting her father in Winthrop Harbor. The Winthrop Harbor Police Department responded on August 1 to the 700 block of College Avenue […]
Posted inMcHenry County
Judge gives probation to suspect in ‘brutal’ beating of 61-year-old man after 15-20 motorcyclists encircled car in Lake in the Hills
A judge sentenced a man to probation after prosecutors say he worked with 15-20 other motorcyclists to surround a 61-year-old man’s car before “brutally” beating the victim while armed in Lake in the Hills. Julio C. Salas, 36, of Sleepy Hollow, was charged in June with aggravated battery in a public place, aggravated battery with […]
Posted inMcHenry County
Cannabis dispensary in Woodstock among first to open drive-thru service after state law change, city council approval
A cannabis dispensary in Woodstock will become among the first in Illinois to open drive-thru service after a state law change and the Woodstock City Council’s approval. Terrabis, located at 601 South Eastwood Drive in Woodstock, is set to open the drive-thru service later this month. It will be McHenry County’s first dispensary drive-thru. An […]
Posted inLake County
Resident chases down, subdues suspect who allegedly tried breaking into cars and house in Round Lake
A resident chased down and subdued a suspect until police arrived after the suspect was accused of breaking into cars and trying to burglarize a house in a Round Lake subdivision. Riley J. Markus, 33, of Round Lake, was charged with one count of burglary, a Class 2 felony, and two counts of attempted burglary, […]
Posted inMcHenry County
Heavy police, SWAT team activity spotted during apparent federal operation in Woodstock
Multiple federal law enforcement agencies, including ICE and an FBI SWAT team, were spotted in Woodstock making arrests Friday morning as authorities asked the public to avoid the area. McHenry County Rapid Response said a man was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Woodstock. The arrest happened in the parking lot of […]
Posted inLake County
Coroner identifies body found inside car submerged in Lake Michigan in Waukegan as missing man in his 20s
The coroner says they have identified a body that was found inside a car fully submerged in Lake Michigan at the Waukegan Harbor over a year ago. It was determined to be a missing person. The Waukegan Police Department and Waukegan Fire Department were notified around 1 p.m. on August 26, 2025, about an object […]
Posted inLake County
Wauconda man wearing ski mask accused of possessing loaded ghost gun in public park in Vernon Hills
A Wauconda man wearing a ski mask was arrested after officers found him with a loaded ghost gun while sitting in a car in a public park in Vernon Hills, prosecutors said. The Vernon Hills Police Department conducted a traffic stop around 8:50 p.m. on August 31 on a vehicle occupied by multiple people. The […]