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2 men accused of unlawfully restraining 13-year-old boy at knifepoint during apparent robbery attempt in Woodstock

Two men were taken into custody after they allegedly held a 13-year-old boy riding his bicycle at knifepoint during an apparent robbery attempt in Woodstock. Jose O. Manuel-Martinez, 18, of Woodstock, and Khalil S. Hyde, 18, of Woodstock, were charged with aggravated unlawful restraint, intimidation and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. A criminal complaint […]

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Vernon Hills man arrested after trying to force entry to house in Green Oaks, attempting to crash car into home

A Vernon Hills man was tased and taken into custody by deputies after they say he tried forcing his way into a house in Green Oaks, blocking a victim from escaping and trying to crash his car into the residence Thursday morning. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 1:30 a.m. Thursday to the 1900 […]

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Kane County jury finds Pingree Grove man guilty of murdering, concealing body of Crystal Lake victim in 2024

A Kane County jury has found a Pingree Grove man guilty of murdering a Crystal Lake victim in 2024, then attempting to conceal the whereabouts of his body. Douglas Ottesen, 61, was found guilty Friday of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and concealment of a death for killing James Cromwell, 57, of Crystal Lake, court records […]

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8 years in prison for machete-wielding suspect who physically restrained clerk during robbery at Mundelein store

A judge sentenced a suspect to eight years in prison after prosecutors said he beat and tied up a clerk during a robbery at a gas station in Mundelein while he was armed with a machete. Lexarez L. Beles, 44, of Highwood, was charged in January 2025 with armed robbery, aggravated kidnapping while armed, aggravated […]

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Deputies arrest suspect accused of holding woman against her will during 100+ mph pursuit in Lake County

Deputies arrested a suspect accused of holding a woman against her will and leading police on a high-speed chase at over 100 mph through Lake County early Monday morning. The Lake County Sheriff’s 911 Emergency Telecommunications Center was notified around 1:10 a.m. Monday by the Racine Police Department requesting assistance with a fleeing vehicle that […]

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Jury convicts father who forced child to live in locked Waukegan basement, believed she was possessed by demon

A jury has convicted a father on charges that he forced his young child to live in a locked basement in deplorable conditions while believing she was possessed by a demon. Randy Swopes, 55, and Katherine Swopes, 56, both of Waukegan, were charged in July 2018 with child endangerment and unlawful restraint. Then-Waukegan Police Chief […]

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Beach Park man charged after unlawfully restraining and battering “frantic” victim while driving recklessly across Lake County

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Emergency 911 Telecommunicators are being credited for rescuing a victim who was being held against her will inside a vehicle during a harrowing ride from Grayslake to Buffalo Grove early Tuesday morning. Lake County Sheriff’s Office 911 Telecommunications Center received a wireless 911 call from a “frantic” woman trapped inside a […]