Police: Suspect Was Trying to Rob ComEd When He Was Captured Again

Hopefully there's no need to find out if the third time's the charm.

A burglary suspect that was apprehended by McHenry County Sheriff's Deputies Wednesday night escaped and instead of hiding, decided to attempt a second burglary, according to police.

According to the , James R. Henson, 44, of 5010 W. Bromley Drive in McHenry was attempting to rob the ComEd Facility located at 400 Knaack Blvd., on the north side of the city, while police were searching for him.

The officers that responded to the burglary in process at 7:30 a.m. Thursday determined that Henson had fled from the building northbound. Crystal Lake Police, in conjunction with the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and McHenry County Conservation District Police, established a perimeter and initiated a search for the burglary suspect, according to police.

Crystal Lake Police officers spotted the suspect at 8:30 a.m. in the wooded area north of Knaack Blvd., near the area of the McHenry County Conservation District Prairie Trail bike path, and chased him on foot.

Henson was taken into custody by Crystal Lake Police and turned over to McHenry County Sheriff’s Deputies for transport to the McHenry County Adult Correctional Facility.

According to police, Henson was positively identified by the witness in the ComEd burglary and was subsequently charged with criminal trespass, criminal damage to property and burglary.

He will remain in custody until he is brought before the court for his first appearance and the setting of bond.

Henson was also arrested Wednesday night for criminal trespass to property, burglary, possession of burglary tools and criminal damage to property after a trespassing complaint was made in the 4000 block of Terra Cotta Road in Crystal Lake.

The property owner contacted the Sheriff’s Office with a complaint that someone may be illegally occupying their barn. An investigation revealed that Henson was inside the barn without legal justification.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Henson escaped from a Sheriff’s Office squad at about 7:39 p.m. Wednesday by kicking out the rear passenger window, which occurred in the area of Hillside Road and Walkup Road in . A search was performed in the immediate area, but Henson was not located.

An automated message was sent out to Crystal Lake residents and other locations, such as McHenry County College.

MCC students were warned to stay safe by staff members after being notified that the a handcuffed suspect was on the loose somewhere in Crystal Lake.

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections website, Henson is on parole after being released from prison in July. His convictions in McHenry, Kane and Lake counties include criminal damage to property, possession of a stolen vehicle, burglary and forgery.

Additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues.