Man threatens to kill police during Waukegan standoff, surrenders peacefully

A standoff between police and a Waukegan man who threatened to kill any officer who came to his door to evict him ended peacefully Wednesday, more than 24 hours after the standoff began.

Police arranged for the landlord of the apartment building in the 500 block of Ridgeland to evacuate the building before they attempted to serve an eviction on the 41-year-old man due to a threat he made via Facebook. An anonymous source contacted police Monday night saying the man wrote a post that he was going to “kill the cops” that were coming to kick him out of the apartment and signed it “Blaze of Glory.”

The man was described by the source as a “down on his luck Gulf War veteran,” and police were unable to reach him on his cellphone before approaching the apartment at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday.

Officers made contact with Robert A. Newberry by using a bullhorn, but Newberry stated he would not step out of the apartment and said if a deputy came to the door he would kill him or her, according to the Lake County sheriff's office.

Police called for backup, and about 40 officers and deputies formed a perimeter and evacuated neighboring homes and businesses while blocking roads within a block of the building.

Authorities were unable to make contact with Newberry again that day and allowed people back into the residences with a plan to come back on Wednesday with an arrest warrant. A surveillance team was left overnight, according to police.

Deputies spoke with a Veteran's Affairs hospital and identified Newberry as a Gulf War veteran Wednesday morning after negotiations broke down again and he became aggressive.

After confirming he was a veteran, deputies took a kinder approach, and about 1 p.m. they came armed with a McDonald's lunch and information on how to find alternative housing.

Within 45 minutes, Newberry surrendered peacefully and is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail on charges of aggravated assault for the threat made to officers, resisting a peace office and criminal trespass to property.

Police have been working with Newberry's family and Veterans Affairs to find a place to store his belongings and to find him temporary housing.

Newberry's bond was originally set at $50,000 but was lowered to $10,000 after he apologized and thanked those who were involved in helping find him temporary housing and storage for his things, according to authorities.