Law & Order column: Coroner’s office identifies recent victims

The Lake County Coroner’s Office Thursday identified three men who died in unrelated incidents in recent days.

Paul Anderson of Lake Zurich died in a Dec. 23 auto accident. Anderson, 72, suffered a fatal medical event while driving at around 11:30 a.m. He crashed his car into several trees and another vehicle near Pheasant Ridge Drive and Old Mill Grove in Lake Zurich. Anderson’s passenger was injured in the crash, authorities said.

Axel Maldonado, 22, of Round Lake Beach, was identified as the man who died when the car in which he was riding ran into a house at around 7:25 p.m. Tuesday near Lake Villa. The house was not occupied at the time. The driver has been charged with reckless homicide and DUI, police said.

A man killed in a Dec. 22 shooting in Waukegan was identified as Christopher Tapia, 19, of Zion. Authorities said he was shot at around 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of South Park Avenue and Water Street. The incident remains under investigation.

Child porn charges

A Waukegan man is due in court Monday for a detention hearing on child pornography charges, according to local police and court records.

Jose Paz-Hernandez, 31, was arrested on Dec. 19 after police executed a search warrant at his residence in the 3000 block of Kathe Lane, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and the sheriff’s office received a tip that someone was uploading child pornography from the Kathe Lane address. After seizing electronic devices, authorities conducted examinations and discovered child sexual abuse images.

Prosecutors filed 10 counts of child pornography against Paz-Hernandez, and also filed a petition to detain him until trial. The detention hearing is scheduled for Dec. 30.

“With new technology and a dedicated team in our office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and alongside all our law enforcement partners, we will locate and apprehend those who threaten the safety of our children and our community. Our prosecutors will hold them accountable in the courtroom,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said.

“This arrest highlights the exceptional work of our detectives and the critical collaboration between the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “By combining our resources, including our sheriff’s electronics detection canine, K9 Tera(byte), we are unwavering in our commitment to identifying and apprehending individuals who exploit and harm children. We will always invest our resources on protecting the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Reward

The FBI is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the capture and conviction of the man who robbed a bank branch in Round Lake Beach in November.

The robbery occurred on November 20 at around 5:35 p.m. at the US Bank branch inside the Meijer store at 750 East Rollins Road.

Authorities say the man is about 5-foot-11 and wore dark, wire-rimmed glasses and a light-blue medical mask. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chicago field office of the FBI at (312) 421-6700.

A photo taken from the bank can be seen at https://bankrobbers.fbi.gov/chicago/2024-11-21.734887/poster.pdf

Police academy

Zion police have announced a session of their citizens’ police academy that is set to begin in February.

There are only 20 slots open, and the deadline for registration is Jan. 7. The sessions will take place weekly starting Feb. 4 and concluding April 8.

Participants will have the chance to interact with local police and get an insider’s view of the many and varied facets of police work.

The academy is open to people interested in police work as well as community members looking for greater interaction with law enforcement.

Applicants will undergo a background check to assess eligibility. Questions can be directed to Sgt. Manuel Rivera at (847) 872-8000, or via email at manuelr@zion.il.us.

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