The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Group has arrested a Zion man on drug and weapons charges.
Amado Palma-Yanes, 38, of the 2000 block of Hebron Avenue, was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and obstructing justice after officers stopped him in traffic Tuesday.
SIG officers said they had begun an investigation into Palma-Yanes after receiving information that he was selling illegal drugs. During the investigation, police learned that he had a warrant from 2012 that was still active.
After he was pulled over in the traffic stop, Palma-Yanes gave police a fake identity, according to reports.
Officers later conducted a search at his residence and found three illegally possessed guns, including one that was a personally manufactured weapon with no serial number, authorities said. Police said they also seized a safe that may have been used in drug trafficking.
Illicit images
A Winthrop Harbor man who is a registered sex offender has been charged after police said he had illicit sexual images of a child on his phone.
Thomas Rix, 57, was charged with child pornography following an investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Officers said they recently learned that Rix had uploaded child images to a social media page.
When officers went to Rix’s address, they learned he had moved to another residence in Winthrop Harbor. He told police that he had also been living in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. Authorities searched his phone and said they found images of a young girl, including at least one pornographic image.
Rix told police he took the pictures while he lived at the previous address, authorities said. He has been detained until trial.
“Fortunately, it appears sheriff’s detectives were able to stop this man before he committed a further horrific act on the young girl whose photos he had,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “The members of our office will tirelessly investigate and arrest those who prey on our children. We will always be relentless in our pursuit of justice, especially when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us — our children.”
Community watch
The North Chicago Police Department has launched community watch groups across the city in an attempt to reduce crime and foster greater interaction between police and citizens.
The new program has five watch groups. The groups meet monthly to discuss crime trends and strategies for crime prevention and safety, as well as receive training.
“The most significant components of the NCPD Community Watch Group Program are police transparency and community participation,” the department said in a news release. “It takes a village to solve issues within a community.”
Data shows that communities with active watch programs experience decreases in burglaries, drugs and related crimes, police said.
Residents interested in initiating or joining a community watch group can contact Freddrick Diez, management analyst at the North Chicago Police Department, at (847) 596-8724 or diez@northchicago.org.
Coffee with a Cop
Zion police will host Coffee with a Cop on Oct. 26, from 9-11 a.m. at the McDonald’s, 2028 Sheridan Road. Residents are invited to share concerns, ask questions or just say hello.