Lake County prosecutors have upgraded the charges against a man who drove his car into a house on Christmas Eve, killing a passenger.
Marcos Corona-Vargas was initially charged with reckless homicide and DUI following the Dec. 24 crash near Lake Villa. But he is now charged with aggravated DUI causing a death, according to court records.
Corona-Vargas, 31, of Round Lake Beach, was ordered detained until trial after a Jan. 3 hearing, according to court records. The case is due back in court on Monday, after Corona-Vargas’ attorney filed a motion asking the judge to reconsider.
The crash happened around 7:35 p.m. on Christmas Eve in the 21300 block of West Engle, police said. Corona-Vargas was driving a Jeep eastbound when he left the road, drove through a yard and then struck a house, according to reports.
The front-seat passenger, Axel Maldonado, a 22-year-old Round Lake resident, was killed in the crash. Corona-Vargas and another passenger were hospitalized with serious injuries, police said. Corona-Vargas was booked into the jail following his hospital release, and he remains in custody.
Pound of cocaine
A man and woman from Kane County were arrested this month after a traffic stop near Lincolnshire that yielded a pound of cocaine, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver, Melissa M. Coquillard, 33, of Hampshire, and the passenger, Martin Gonzalez, 36, of South Elgin, were taken into custody.
Members of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Group pulled them over at about 6:20 p.m. Wednesday on Interstate 94 near the Illinois Route 22 exit, police said.
A sheriff’s office police dog sniffed around the vehicle’s exterior and alerted for the presence of narcotics, police said. A subsequent search located more than half a kilogram – 578 grams – of cocaine, police said.
Both Coquillard and Gonzalez were charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
“This case demonstrates the effectiveness of our specialized teams, including our K9 Unit, in intercepting dangerous drugs before they reach our communities,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “ I commend the collaborative efforts of our deputies and our Special Investigations Group for their dedication to keeping Lake County safe.
“Drug traffickers pose a serious threat, and we will continue to aggressively pursue those who bring these substances into our community,” he said.
Drive-by shooting
Both of the women injured during a Jan. 5 drive-by shooting have been discharged from the hospital, according to the sheriff’s office.
They were hurt at around 2 a.m. when someone opened fire on their car on Green Bay Road in Beach Park. Both women sustained gunshot wounds.
Police arrested two suspects later that night following several chases that ended when Zion police deployed a tire-deflation device that punctured the tires on the suspect vehicle, a Dodge Challenger that may have been stolen in Wisconsin.
An 18-year-old Waukegan resident named Jonathan Garcia of the 1300 block of Judge Place, and a 16-year-old juvenile, were taken into custody and are facing weapons charges, police said.
Police are still trying to determine a motive for the shooting, the sheriff’s office said Friday.
Coffee with a Cop
Gurnee residents will have a great chance to interact with their police department and enjoy a free cup of joe at the same time at the upcoming “Coffee with a Cop” event.
It is scheduled for Feb. 8 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Gurnee Mills mall food court’s south dining pavilion near the Kohl’s store.
The event will also have a craft table for kids to make valentines that will be distributed to local seniors.
