Winthrop Harbor man accused of threatening call to synagogue faces hate crime charge

A Winthrop Harbor man accused of making a threatening phone call to a Highland Park synagogue days after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting has been charged with a hate crime.

Highland Park police were alerted late Monday afternoon by a staff member of Central Avenue Synagogue about a phone call containing threatening statements.

An investigation in collaboration with state and federal law enforcement authorities led to identifying the caller as Dean R. West, 39, of the 1100 Block of Sheridan Road, police said.

"He does have a history of making disturbing phone calls," said Jon Lowman, Highland Park deputy police chief. Officials said they were unsure about past targets of West's harassment.

West was taken into custody Thursday on a Lake County warrant by Highland Park police detectives, who were assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service-Great Lakes Regional Task Force.

He faces one count of felony hate crime and was remanded into custody at the Lake County jail on $250,000 bail.

Highland Park police already had increased patrols focusing on religious institutions after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in which 11 worshippers were killed. They have been working with representatives of houses of worship to enact security plans.

There have been no credible threats to any religious institutions or other establishments in town, police said.

"We have not had any other reports that are similar to this in Highland Park," Lowman said.