California man charged in threats to Lake County courthouse, Gurnee police

A California man is held on $2 million bail on accusations he said in a phone call he wanted to "light up" Gurnee police headquarters and the Lake County courthouse, authorities said Tuesday.

Lake County sheriff's police said Daniel B. Pederson, 33, of Calabasas, was charged in an arrest warrant with making a terrorist threat. He was seized by police in California on Sept. 25, seven days after the warrant was issued. Pederson's bail was set at a hearing Tuesday in Lake County circuit court. His next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 18.

Authorities said a man believed to be Pederson phoned the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services inspector general's office about 11:45 a.m. Sept. 12. Sheriff's police said the man told the state agency he intended to kill people and "light up" the Gurnee police building on O'Plaine Road and the courthouse in downtown Waukegan.

Sheriff's police said they were informed about the purported threats at noon Sept. 12. That led to a bomb search at the courthouse that turned out to be negative and an increase in security.

Gurnee police had arrested Pederson for driving on a license that was suspended for not paying child support.

Sheriff's police Sgt. Sara Balmes said the U.S. Marshals Service assisted in apprehending Pederson in California. Pederson was returned to Illinois to face charges Monday.

Balmes said Pederson had two other outstanding Lake County arrest warrants. He was wanted on a 2011 failure to appear warrant on a charge of criminal damage to property and a 2013 warrant for violating an order of protection.