A SWAT team was called and police rescued a woman who was spotted seeking help before she was dragged into a home by a wanted parolee in Waukegan Tuesday afternoon. The Waukegan Police Department responded around 12 p.m. Tuesday to the 2200 block of Walnut Street in Waukegan for a call for service. Waukegan Deputy […]
Tag: unlawful restraint
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Officers rescue injured woman in Wauconda who said she was held against her will for week by machete-wielding felon
Officers rescued an injured woman in Wauconda who reported she was held against her will for a week after she was given a ride by a man, who allegedly later threatened her with a machete and beat her. Officers with the Wauconda Police Department observed a suspicious male and female in the parking lot of […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]