An SUV caught fire and spread to the garage of a home in Kildeer, causing significant damage and leaving the residence uninhabitable Monday evening. The Lake Zurich Fire Department responded around 10:17 p.m. Monday to the 21200 block of West Brandon Road in Kildeer for a report of a structure fire. Firefighters arrived at the […]

Sam Borcia
Sam Borcia is the CEO and Publisher of Lake and McHenry County Scanner based in Libertyville, 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 [email protected].
Off-duty police officer drowned on Petite Lake after having a medical emergency, coroner says
The coroner said that an off-duty police officer, who was also a military veteran, died after possibly experiencing a medical emergency of some kind, causing him to drown on Petite Lake Friday evening. An autopsy showed Victor Lopez, 49, of Round Lake Beach, died as a result of drowning, according to Lake County Coroner Dr. […]
27-year-old man dies after being rescued from water at Illinois Beach State Park near Zion
A 27-year-old Waukegan man died after he was rescued from Lake Michigan at the Illinois Beach State Park in Zion on Sunday. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Beach Park Fire Department responded around 5 p.m. Sunday to the Illinois Beach State Park in unincorporated Zion for a report of a water rescue. Lake County […]
Woman who said she believes in “white power” arrested after fight with bystander at McHenry Home Depot
A woman caught on video saying she believes in “white power” during a face mask dispute was arrested after it turned into a physical fight at the Home Depot in McHenry. Teri A. Hill, 54, of the 2600 block of Wall Street in McHenry, was charged with one count of battery, a Class A misdemeanor, […]
Off-duty police officer ID’d as Petite Lake drowning victim, officials say
An off-duty police officer, who was a Round Lake Beach resident, was identified as the man who drowned on Petite Lake near Lake Villa Friday evening. An autopsy showed Victor Lopez, 49, of Round Lake Beach, died as a result of drowning, according to Lake County Coroner Dr. Howard Cooper. Lopez worked as a police […]
No injuries after garage fire in Oakwood Hills
An electrical fire that started in the attached garage of a home in Oakwood Hills displaced a family early Sunday morning, fire officials said. The Cary Fire Protection District responded around 2:32 a.m. Sunday to the 200 block of Oak Park Drive in Oakwood Hills for a report of a structure fire. Firefighters arrived in […]
17-year-old boy shot in the neck during massive party in Zion
A 17-year-old boy is in serious condition after gunshots broke out following multiple fights at a gathering of more than 200 people in Zion Saturday evening. The Zion Police Department responded around 10:16 p.m. Saturday to a fight near the Hebron Townhouse Apartments in the 2700 block of Hebron Avenue. Officers encountered people fighting at […]
Man fatally shoots himself after shooting spouse, standoff with police in Gurnee
A man who shot a woman in front of their young child at a Gurnee apartment later killed himself following a standoff with police and a SWAT team Friday evening. The Gurnee Police Department and Gurnee Fire Department responded around 9:30 p.m. Friday to the 6700 block of Derby Drive for a report of a […]
Man dies after being rescued from Petite Lake near Lake Villa
A 49-year-old man swimming on Petite Lake near Lake Villa was rescued by his friends Friday evening and later died at the hospital, police said. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit and Patrol Deputies along with the Lake Villa Fire Protection District responded around 5:45 p.m. Friday to the 38800 block of North Cedar […]