Man accused of selling drugs in Fox Lake

A Round Lake Park man was arrested for selling cocaine in a gas station parking lot, Fox Lake police said Wednesday.

William K. Hermes, 59, was charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, Lt. Jeff Norris said.

The unlawful delivery charge is a Class X felony, while the unlawful possession charge is a Class 1 felony. If convicted, Hermes faces up to 30 years in prison, Norris said.

Police were conducting a drug enforcement patrol Dec. 11 when Hermes was spotted in the parking lot on Route 12.

"We were doing a special detail for drug enforcement for about three hours when we saw a deal going down," Norris said. "To make it tougher, it was real bad weather that Tuesday. That's when the ice storms blew through and everything was slick."

Police said Hermes tried to drive away in his 2004 Lincoln Continental, but they stopped him before he could flee.

During the search, police found approximately 1.5 grams of cocaine and about $1,500 in cash, Norris said. Police seized the car during the arrest, Norris said.

Hermes was released on a $50,000 bond and is due in court Jan. 4.