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Round Lake Park gang unit charges teen with marijuana possession

A Round Lake Beach teen was arrested on charges of marijuana possession Friday by Round Lake Park and federal law enforcement authorities conducting operations in the area of a recent shooting.

Arturo “TWIGZ” Lopez, 18, of the 1100 Block of Fairfield Road, Round Lake Beach was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis and unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, both felonies.

On Friday, Round Lake Park Gang Unit officers along with Federal ICE Gang Unit Agents were conducting gang suppression operations in the area following a recent shooting in the 400 Block of Fairlawn Drive when at approximately 10 p.m. they encountered several known gang members in the area of 300 Block of Fairlawn Drive that were believed to have been targets of the recent shooting incident.

While officers were outside conducting an investigation, according to police, a concerned citizen advised them that they observed a male wearing a red shirt and black shorts run out and drop something in the rear of a house on Fairlawn Drive, then run back inside the house.

Gang unit officers searched the yard and located a large plastic bag with 63 grams of marijuana that also contained several smaller plastic bags with marijuana, along with 3 glass pipes and a digital scale.

The shooting that spurred the gang suppression operations occurred late Tuesday toward a house in the 300 block of Fairlawn Drive in Round Lake Park. No injuries were reported.

Hugo Moreno, 22, of the 600 block of Ivy Court, was in custody awaiting a bond hearing Friday morning in connection with a report of three to eight gunshots fired late Tuesday toward the house on Fairlawn Drive.

Moreno was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, both felonies, according to Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko.

Police received a confidential tip Wednesday describing the vehicle involved and a possible name of a suspect in the shooting. Police found a 1998 silver Oldsmobile Delta 88, and a few hours later took Moreno into custody without incident at his home, Filenko said. He added that a possible second suspect is being sought as the investigation continues.

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