McHenry County sheriff’s office captures top fugitive

The McHenry County Sheriff’s office said Thursday it had arrested a Wonder Lake man who was No. 7 on its Top 10 Fugitives list.

Justin E. Dean, 20, of the 4600 block of East Wonder Lake Road, was wanted for possession of a stolen firearm, sale of a stolen firearm, possession of a handgun, concealing and aiding a fugitive, theft and possession of a firearm with an expired firearm owner’s identification card, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. He was apprehended at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 5100 block of Home Avenue in McHenry, where police learned he was staying, according to Sgt. Anthony Penna.

The sheriff’s office obtained a warrant for Dean’s arrest Nov. 20 as a result of an investigation into a stolen firearm that had been used in what police called an accidental shooting in Volo in October. Authorities said the stolen gun was sold by Dean to the people involved in the shooting. The shooting itself was investigated by the Lake County Sheriff’s office.

Dean was only on the Top 10 Fugitives list for a few days, Penna said, and was taken into custody without a struggle.

The other nine members of the sheriff’s office most wanted list are considered armed and dangerous with charges including murder, sexual assault, drug offenses and battery. Residents are asked to call the sheriff’s office with information about these individuals but should not try to confront them. A new fugitive will be added to the list in coming days.

“We like for the public to assist us in locating fugitives and we like to see them check out,” Penna said.

Dean is due in court at 9 a.m. Friday. He was being held in the McHenry County jail pending a bond payment of $8,500.

More details about the most wanted list are available at mchenrysheriff.org.

Ÿ Daily Herald staff writer Lee Filas contributed to this story.