Police arrested three people and recovered almost three kilos of methamphetamine during the search of a Gurnee residence, according to Zion police.
Police from the Northern Illinois Police Alarm System Emergency Service Team conducted the search Tuesday. Zion police obtained the warrant, saying that a resident of the 4300 block of Birch was suspected of selling the drugs in the Zion area.
The potentially hazardous nature of the drug prompted officers to take precautions against exposure, Zion police said. Once inside, the officers didn’t find evidence that the drugs were being produced at the location, but they did locate the large cache of meth in the basement.
Three residents were taken into custody, and officers also found four firearms and three grams of cocaine. A hazardous waste team from the Drug Enforcement Administration was called in to collect the drugs and decontaminate the basement, ZPD said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Gurnee police also participated in the search.
K9 hurt
Dax, one of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office K9 officers, was resting at home and receiving treatment after he was injured while subduing a subject.
The police dog was hurt at 11:55 p.m. on March 3 as Dax and his handler, Deputy Ray Forlenza, were tracking a suspect wanted for stealing a car. Police said the suspect hit a Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, squad car before fleeing and crashing the stolen car in the 41000 block of North Green Bay Road near Zion.
The suspect reportedly fled into a wooded area, and Forlenza and Dax responded to search. Dax located the suspect, a 16-year-old Zion youth, in the woods and bit him in the torso in apprehending him.
Dax, however, was injured in the incident and was unable to put weight on his hind legs. He was brought to a veterinarian for treatment,
The sheriff’s office reported Thursday that Dax was home and receiving treatment. The police dog has swelling that needs to subside before a definitive diagnosis of his injury can be made, the sheriff’s office said.
“We are extremely hopeful Dax’s injury is not serious. Please send positive thoughts to Dax and Deputy Forlenza, as the extent of the injury is determined. We are all wishing Dax a speedy recovery,” Sheriff John Idleburg said in a news release.
The youth is facing charges in both Illinois and Wisconsin, police said.
St. Patrick’s patrols
Local police will be teaming up with the Illinois State Police and the state Department of Transportation for a traffic safety campaign timed to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day.
Celebrating the day, which often emphasizes alcohol consumption, can lead to increased drunk driving. So, police will be stepping up enforcement efforts through March 17. The sheriff’s office said it will be on the lookout for speeders and motorists not complying with seatbelt laws.
The sheriff’s office offered some tips:
*Drunk or high, it doesn’t matter. It is never OK to drive impaired. Designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
*If you see an impaired driver on the road, contact law enforcement.
