Sheriff: Lake County teen found with gun after high-speed chase

A pair of 17-year-old Lake County boys face felony charges after authorities say they led police on a high-speed chase Saturday night in Beach Park.

According to Lake County sheriff’s police, a patrol deputy clocked the teens in a vehicle traveling 80 mph in a 40 mph zone along Sheridan Road at 7:40 p.m. Saturday. The deputy attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the driver sped away, at one point turning off the Toyota Camry’s lights to evade capture.

The sheriff’s deputy later located the vehicle in a parking lot in Zion and arrested the suspected driver, a resident of Beach Park. A passenger, also a 17-year-old boy from Beach Park, fled on foot, but was caught and found with a pistol with an extended magazine, authorities said.

The passenger was petitioned to juvenile court on charges of aggravated unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, unlawful possession of cannabis and underage possession of alcohol, according to the sheriff’s office. He was transported to the Hulse Juvenile Detention Facility in Vernon Hills.

The driver was petitioned to juvenile court on charges of aggravated fleeing, aggravated speeding, reckless driving and multiple other traffic violations. He was released to a parent, officials said.

There was a Dodge Dakota that appeared to be traveling with the Toyota that also fled, and sheriff’s deputies are working to identify the driver and occupants of that vehicle, authorities said.