Three men are facing weapons charges after police said they were arrested carrying guns after fleeing from a burning, stolen car.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded at about 11:45 p.m. on July 5 to the 42400 block of Illinois Route 41 in Wadsworth for reports of a vehicle fire. A witness reported seeing three people running from the burning car into the woods by a nearby truck stop.
A deputy patrolling the area then saw three people who matched the description of the people fleeing the car fire quickly get into an SUV that arrived nearby. Determining that the vehicle was a rideshare, the deputy pulled the vehicle over.
A search of the three passengers showed they were armed with loaded guns, police said.
Police identified them as Marcus Smith, 19, of Zion, Trashaun King, 18, of Round Lake, and Barion Mhoon, 18, of Kenosha, Wisconsin. They have been charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a firearm.
The vehicle fire and theft remain under investigation. The burning vehicle was reported stolen from North Chicago.
New police chief
There’s been a change of command at the Park City Police Department, with the appointment of Kenneth Stoves as chief to succeed retiring Chief Walter “Tippy” Holderbaum.
Holderbaum left Park City on June 21, ending a 46-year career in law enforcement, including the last 17 years as Park City’s chief. He previously served 29 years in the North Chicago Police Department.
“Chief Holderbaum’s work and leadership have laid a solid foundation for the Park City Police Department, and he will be remembered for his storied 46-year career,” Mayor Steve Pannell said.
Stoves had previously served as a commander at PCPD before being named chief.
Extra enforcement
Waukegan police say they are taking extra steps throughout July to combat speeding and reckless driving.
Thanks to a grant from the Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program, Waukegan will conduct supplementary enforcement efforts. In addition to policing speeders, officers will be looking out for impaired driving, cell phone use, failure to yield and disobeying traffic signals.
All are major contributing factors in crashes, police said.
Victim identified
The Lake County Coroner’s Office has identified the man who died Wednesday when his vehicle became partially submerged in a Wauconda retention pond.
Joshua Klausing, 38, drowned in his car, according to preliminary autopsy results, the coroner’s office said.
The Wauconda resident was headed north on Main Street at 10:24 a.m. Wednesday when his vehicle struck a curb at Garland Street. Klausing’s SUV ended up on its roof in the adjacent pond and was partially submerged.
Firefighters worked diligently to remove Klausing, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Go fish
The Gurnee Police Department, along with the Park District, will hold the annual Cops and Bobbers fishing event on July 31.
The free event for kids ages 5 through 15 takes place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the pond at Hunt Club Park. The event organizers said a limited number of fishing poles and gear will be available, so participants are encouraged to bring their own rods, reels and bait.
Police and Park District employees will be on hand to help young anglers. Prizes will be awarded for the biggest, smallest and most fish caught in each age group — ages 5-8, 9-11 and 12-15.
There will also be a raffle. Participants can register by going to the link on the Gurnee police Facebook page.
