Guard accused of sneaking fake gun into courthouse

A Round Lake Beach man is being held in Lake County jail on $100,000 bond after authorities said, he sneaked a plastic novelty lighter that resembled a gun past a security checkpoint at the county courthouse in Waukegan and showed it to a security officer.

Richard McDaniel, 46, of the 1600 block of Hickory Avenue, was charged with aggravated assault and aggravated battery of a peace officer following his arrest Thursday afternoon.

According to authorities, McDaniel worked as a security guard for U.S. Security Associates, the company in charge of providing security screening for all visitors who enter the Waukegan court complex and various satellite court departments.

McDaniel was employed out of one of the satellite offices, authorities said, but was terminated after his arrest Thursday.

Chief Brian Keller of the Lake County sheriff's office said McDaniel entered the Waukegan court complex through the Washington Street entrance at 12:20 p.m., successfully passed through a metal detector, then walked up to a Lake County Sheriff's deputy and displayed the novelty gun he had either hidden in his waistband or front pocket.

He then was arrested, Keller said.

Keller said the novelty item was plastic, which is why he didn't set off the court metal detectors. People are often checked by court security wielding metal detector wands after they set off a court metal detector.

McDaniel is due back in court at 9 a.m. Friday.