Waukegan middle school teacher arrested after girl found in closet

A Lake Co. teacher from Beach Park has been charged with obstructing a peace officer after he lied about a teenager hiding in his home, police said Monday.

Eric Wood, 24, of 38141 Cornell Avenue near Beach Park, was arrested Nov. 9 after police found the 17-year-old woman, who had been reported missing, in a closet there, authorities said.

Wood is a teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Waukegan, Lake County sheriff's police said.

The girl was reported missing Nov. 7. The girl's family earlier had complained to Zion police that Wood was spending time with her, Zion Police Chief Larry Booth said. However, Wood had committed no crime at the time, Booth said.

When deputies arrived at Wood's home on Nov. 9 to investigate the girl's disappearance, he denied anybody was with him, police said. A search proved otherwise, police said.

Wood was released on his own recognizance after his arrest. He is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 9.