Buffalo Grove

Man Charged After Fireworks Cause Large Brush Fire

A brush fire northwest of Buffalo Grove and Aptakisic roads destroyed grass and wiped out power to thousands of residents, but no lives or homes were harmed in the blaze. The fire was started by fireworks and quickly consumed about 15 acres of Commonwealth Edison property July 8.

Police charged Gabriel R. Horwich, 20, of 424 Cedar Court North, Buffalo Grove, with criminal damage to property by reckless means of a fire — a Class 4 felony.

Horwich was charged after an off-duty police officer from Morton Grove saw four people who had allegedly been using illegal fireworks running from the scene around 1 p.m. on Buffalo Grove Road between Aptakisic Road and Brandywyn Lane, according to a police report.

Crystal Lake

Teen Dies After Being Pulled From Fox River

A Crystal Lake teenager died Wednesday at Centegra Hospital after being pulled from the Fox River Monday afternoon.

Connor Priesz, 18, had been listed in critical condition since he was pulled by his friends from the Fox River at about 4 p.m. Monday afternoon. Connor was hanging with his close group of friends as usual, said his father, Brian Priesz.

"They were tossing around a football. Connor's friends' said he suddenly had a strange expression on his face, and he slipped into the water," Brian Priesz said on Wednesday. "They were only in about three feet of water, but it was murky and they had trouble finding him."

Skokie

Man Charged With Attempted Murder In Downtown Shooting

Alexander Soballe, the 20-year-old who allegedly fired multiple shots at a vehicle in downtown Skokie, is now charged with four counts of attempted murder. Soballe was originally charged with four counts of felony aggravated discharge of a firearm, but a grand jury upgraded those charges on July 2, according to police.

All three people inside the vehicle were "known" to Soballe, according to police. It is unclear if he was targetting one or multiple people. The trio came under fire on June 14 while travelling westbound in the 4800 block of Oakton Street when Soballe, who was on foot, fired eight times at the vehicle. He would then flee on foot to his home in the 4900 block of Louise Avenue, police said.

Based on a witness description, officers arriving on scene were able to quickly locate and arrest Soballe.

Grayslake

Lake County Makes Ecstasy Arrest

Detectives from the Lake County Sheriff's Department's Special Investigations Unit seized 67 pills of Ecstasy (MDMA) in the evening of Tuesday, July 10.

Detectives conducted a traffic stop at the corner of Milwaukee and Grand Avenue in Gurnee. Upon investigation officers found the pills in the vehicle. 21-year-old Arnie Estrella of the 13000 block of West Yorkshire Lane in Beach Park was arrested. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

Estrella was charged with one count Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, one count of UPCS with Intent to Deliver and one count Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Estrella appeared in bond court Wednesday.  His bond was set at $25,000.

Lake Forest-Lake Bluff

Lawn Chairs Taken

Eight lawn chairs were reported stolen from the curb on the south side of East Sheridan Place by a resident in the 300 block of Hirst Court at 3:44 p.m. July 3. Resident estimated the total value of the chairs at $240. The complainant said there are on labels on the chairs to identify the proper owner.

Bufferfly Catcher Stolen

A complainant in the 300 block of East Witch wood Lane reported a lost/missing/or stolen butterfly catcher at 7:08 p.m. June 26. The resident said the butterfly catcher was kept in the backyard between two bushes. She said she last saw the butterfly catcher two nights ago. The butterfly catcher is valued at $200.

Bullet Damage

Officers responded to the 12000 block of Meadow Circle for a pistol round that broke through the kitchen of a residence at 9:55 p.m. July 3. The hole in the north side of the residence had a very high angle, indicating the round was likely fired from a long distance away. Officers checked the neighborhood and found no irregularities. No gunshots were reported to Lake Bluff or North Chicago police departments.

Two Nude Teenagers

Officer observed a vehicle at the far north end of the Lake Bluff Train Depot occupied by two nude teens at 8:19 p.m. July 2. Officer verified both subjects were there voluntarily. Parents of both teens were contacted and they were set on their way on their own vehicles.

Palatine

Garage Fire Fought

The Palatine Fire Department responded to a report of a garage fire at 635 S. Stuart Avenue in Palatine on Thursday, July 12 at 11:48 p.m. There were no injuries reported. Crews brought the fire under control in 19 minutes. Crews searched the building and verified that there was nobody inside the home. Damage was estimated at $50,000 and the cause of the fire is under investigation.