Gangs and narcotics focus of upcoming Coffee with a Cop events in Round Lake Park
The year is young, but Round Lake Park police already have heated up enforcement in a continuing crack down on gangs and drugs.
Since Jan. 1, Round Lake Park police have seized close to $30,000 in cash, 10.5 grams of coke, 538 grams of marijuana and two vehicles, and arrested about 30 individuals on various narcotics charges, according to Chief George Filenko.
Those statistics are part of the 2015 edition of Operation Street Sweep, a regional effort that began a few years ago in Round Lake Park involving federal and local law enforcement authorities focused on illegal drug sales and gang activities.
The most recent bust came Tuesday with the arrest of Francisco Macias, 42, of the 200 block of North Prospect Street in Round Lake Park. He was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.
According to Filenko, Round Lake Park police in cooperation with the Lake County Metropolitan Enforcement Group used a search warrant to enter Macias' home and recovered about 10.5 grams of cocaine and $24,284 in cash. He was held in the Lake County jail on $50,000 bail until Wednesday, when he posted $5,000 as bond.
Filenko, who also is commander of the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, said other recent search warrants have netted cannabis found in a diaper bag hanging from a crib and in a safe that contained drugs and cash in a gang house.
"We've had to date 20 confirmed gang contacts," Filenko said.
That means the individuals were arrested or verified as gang members, he explained.
"That will increase," he said. "We're tracking movements of gang members. We're trying to regionalize our efforts."
To that end, authorities with the Lake County sheriff's office, state's attorney's office, Metropolitan Enforcement Group and local departments are cooperating, he said.
Filenko plans to take the message to the public in two "Coffee with a Cop" programs, including one for residents of the 55-and-over Saddlebrook Farms subdivision. That's scheduled for 9 a.m. March 21, at Grayslake Fire Station 3, at the entrance to the neighborhood at 22405 Behm Lane, Grayslake.
"I thought it would be a thinking-outside-of-the-box topic," he said. "Why separate them from having this knowledge because of their age?"
A second session is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 28, at Round Lake Park village hall, 203 E. Lake Shore Drive. Filenko said the sessions are held a few times a year and the topic targeted to the audience.
This time, regional gang and narcotics issues will be the discussed at both, with Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim as the guest speaker. be part of the presentation, Filenko said.