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Archive for the ‘Lake & McHenry County Scanner’ Category

Barrington District 220 teacher, Educator of the Year nominee accused of pulling child down stairs by her hair in Wonder Lake

Posted in 220, Lake & McHenry County Scanner, School Districts on October 7, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Daniel E. Gonka, 47, of Wonder Lake, an art teacher at Barbara Rose Elementary School in South Barrington and a 2026 Lake County Educator of the Year nominee, is accused of grabbing a 15-year-old family member by her hair and hooded sweatshirt and pulling her down the stairs in Wonder Lake on September 12. | Photo – Left: Provided; Photo – Right: Barrington 220 School District

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

A Barrington District 220 teacher who was nominated for Lake County Educator of the Year this spring was arrested for allegedly grabbing a child family member by her hair and pulling her down the stairs in Wonder Lake.

Daniel E. Gonka, 47, of Wonder Lake, was charged with one count of domestic battery causing bodily harm and one count of domestic battery by making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature, both Class A misdemeanors.

The Wonder Lake Police Department arrested Gonka after an incident around 9:52 a.m. on September 12 in Wonder Lake.

Gonka allegedly grabbed a 15-year-old family member by the back of her hooded sweatshirt and her hair and pulled her down the stairs, according to a criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court.

Hair was pulled from the girl’s head and about six inches of entangled hair were observed and documented in photographs, the complaint said.

The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office did not file a petition to detain Gonka and asked the court to set conditions for his pre-trial release.

McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Miller asked that Gonka be ordered not to approach or communicate with the girl and to stay away from a home in Wonder Lake.

Report continues here.

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Elderly woman gets confused and drives down railroad tracks, causing trains to be halted in Barrington

Posted in EJ&E/Canadian National, Jewel-Osco, Lake & McHenry County Scanner, Roads & Bridges Committee on September 26, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Police respond and help remove an SUV from the Union Pacific Northwest line railroad tracks after a driver became confused and drove onto the tracks behind Jewel-Osco, 150 West Main Street in Barrington, on September 19. | Photo: Nick Rusin

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

An elderly woman became confused and began driving down the railroad tracks in downtown Barrington, causing train traffic to be temporarily halted, officials said.

The Barrington Police Department responded around 4 p.m. on September 19 to the area of Jewel-Osco, 150 West Main Street in Barrington, for a report of a vehicle on the tracks.

Police respond and help remove an SUV from the Union Pacific Northwest line railroad tracks after a driver became confused and drove onto the tracks behind Jewel-Osco, 150 West Main Street in Barrington, on September 19. | Photo: Nick Rusin

The Metra Police Department was also dispatched to the scene due to the incident happening within their jurisdiction.

Barrington Police Chief David Daigle said officers received a call for a vehicle that drove westbound onto the train tracks behind the Jewel-Osco.

Police respond and help remove an SUV from the Union Pacific Northwest line railroad tracks after a driver became confused and drove onto the tracks behind Jewel-Osco, 150 West Main Street in Barrington, on September 19. | Photo: Nick Rusin

He said that the elderly female driver apparently became confused while driving her black Honda CR-V.

A Barrington police officer was able to reverse the Honda approximately 200 yards back to Hough Street to get it off the tracks, Daigle said.

Report continues here.

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(Nearby) Wauconda District 118 teacher, sports coach allegedly called his job ‘perfect’ for desire to engage in sex acts with children

Posted in Lake & McHenry County Scanner, School Districts on September 26, 2026| Leave a Comment »

John M. Anderlik, 27, of Crystal Lake, (inset) a sixth-grade teacher at Matthews Middle School in Island Lake, is accused of sharing child sexual abuse videos and describing teaching as “perfect” for furthering his desire to engage in sex acts with children, prosecutors said. | Background Photo: District 118; Inset: Provided

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

Prosecutors say a Wauconda District 118 teacher and sports coach from Crystal Lake shared child sexual abuse videos and described teaching as “perfect” for furthering his desire to engage in sex acts with children.

John M. Anderlik, 27, of Crystal Lake, was charged with two counts of disseminating child sexual abuse material, a Class X felony, and two counts of possession of child sexual abuse material, a Class 2 felony.

Anderlik allegedly shared two videos in August that each showed a prepubescent boy under the age of 13 engaged in a sex act, according to a criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court.

Both videos were screen recordings of Snapchat videos, the complaint said.

The two videos Anderlik allegedly possessed each showed a prepubescent boy under the age of 10 engaged in sex acts and one of them also showed a boy under the age of 15, according to the complaint.

The four videos ranged from 13 to 49 seconds long, the complaint said.

John M. Anderlik, 27, of Crystal Lake, who was an Early Career Educator nominee at the Lake County Regional Office of Education’s 2025 Educator of the Year, poses at an Educator of the Year event (left) and was arrested this week (right). | Photo – Left: via X; Photo – Right: Provided

Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 Interim Co-Superintendents Todd Leden and Brian Wegley said in a letter to families Thursday that Anderlik is a sixth-grade teacher and girls basketball coach at Matthews Middle School in Island Lake.

Anderlik used a Snapchat account to send and receive child sexual abuse material, prosecutors said.

Report continues here.

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Man dies in hospital after three-vehicle crash leads to his car being hit by Metra train in Barrington

Posted in Accidents, Lake & McHenry County Scanner, METRA, VBHPD on September 19, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Police investigate a multiple-vehicle crash and subsequent crash involving a Metra train at Route 14 and Hart Road in Barrington that sent one person to the hospital with injuries after their car sustained major damage Friday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

A man has died in the hospital after a three-vehicle crash resulted in his car being hit by a passing Metra train, causing major damage, on the UP-NW line in Barrington Friday, authorities said.

The Barrington Police Department and Barrington Fire Department responded around 11:45 a.m. Friday to the area of Route 14, also known as Northwest Highway, and Hart Road in Barrington for a report of a crash involving a train.

Report continues here.

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1 hospitalized after three-vehicle crash leads to one car being hit by Metra train in Barrington

Posted in Accidents, Lake & McHenry County Scanner, METRA, Traffic on September 18, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Police investigate a multiple-vehicle crash and subsequent crash involving a Metra train at Route 14 and Hart Road in Barrington that sent one person to the hospital with injuries after their car sustained major damage Friday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

One person was transported to the hospital after a three-vehicle crash resulted in one of the cars being hit by a passing Metra train, causing major damage, on the UP-NW line in Barrington Friday morning.

The Barrington Police Department and Barrington Fire Department responded around 11:45 a.m. Friday to the area of Route 14, also known as Northwest Highway, and Hart Road in Barrington for a report of a crash involving a train.

Police investigate a multiple-vehicle crash and subsequent crash involving a Metra train at Route 14 and Hart Road in Barrington that sent one person to the hospital with injuries after their car sustained major damage Friday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin

Emergency crews arrived and found multiple vehicles involved, along with a Metra train.

The crash occurred along the Union Pacific Northwest line between the Barrington and Fox River Grove Metra stations.

Police investigate a multiple-vehicle crash and subsequent crash involving a Metra train at Route 14 and Hart Road in Barrington that sent one person to the hospital with injuries after their car sustained major damage Friday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin

One of the cars, a red Chevrolet Malibu, appeared to have been the vehicle struck by the train. It sustained major damage and came to rest off the road.

Report continues here.

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Prosecutors say Barrington mother sexually assaulted son’s teen friend, told him ‘I really shouldn’t be doing this’ and continued

Posted in Crime, Lake & McHenry County Scanner, Police Reports, School Districts on September 18, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Officials say Veronica M. Reyes, 41, of Barrington, is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy on multiple occasions in February and March as they revealed new details on the case during a Thursday court hearing, adding that Reyes’ home was the “party house” for her son’s friends and that she also physically abused other juveniles. | Photo – Left: Provided; Photo: – Right: Nick Rusin

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

A Barrington mother accused of sexually assaulting her son’s 16-year-old friend told him, “I really shouldn’t be doing this,” then said, “Whatever, who cares,” and continued, prosecutors said, adding that she physically abused other children.

Veronica M. Reyes, 41, of Barrington, was charged Monday with four counts of criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony, and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, a Class 2 felony.

Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Eduardo Zermeno said Reyes is the mother of two of the victim’s friends and made herself a “constant presence” in her sons’ peer group.

She would drive the boy and other juveniles wherever they wanted to go and allegedly supply them with alcohol and cannabis.

Reyes used that access to isolate the boy inside her bedroom at her home in Barrington while the other juveniles who were there slept in other rooms, Zermeno said.

Reyes is accused of sexually assaulting the boy during two separate encounters roughly two to three weeks apart, each involving multiple sex acts.

The arrest warrant alleges the offenses occurred between February 10 and February 20 and between February 24 and March 13.

The boy told investigators that during the first encounter, Reyes asked him, “You’re 18, right?”

When he told her he was 16 and about to turn 17, Reyes noted he was close in age to her own 15-year-old son and said, “I really shouldn’t be doing this. This isn’t good,” Zermeno said.

The boy told Reyes that if she wanted to stop, she should stop, and Reyes responded, “Whatever, who cares,” and continued, Zermeno said. She later committed the same acts against him again.

Report continues here.

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Woman arrested for allegedly repeatedly sexually assaulting child in Barrington while holding ‘position of trust’ over him

Posted in Lake & McHenry County Scanner on September 16, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Veronica M. Reyes, 41, of Barrington, (inset) is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy on multiple occasions while holding a position of supervision over him in February and March. | Background Photo: Nick Rusin; Inset: Provided

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

A 41-year-old woman is in custody on charges alleging that she repeatedly sexually assaulted a teenage boy while holding a position of trust or authority over the child, police said.

The Barrington Police Department received a report from another agency on June 8 regarding a child sexual assault that occurred in Barrington.

Barrington Chief of Police David Daigle said the case was transferred to his department and an investigation began.

Daigle said the report involved allegations of sexual contact between a 16-year-old boy and Veronica M. Reyes, 41, of Barrington.

Detectives learned that the alleged sexual assaults occurred on multiple occasions on separate dates, Daigle said.

The victim and Reyes knew each other, Daigle added.

The Barrington Police Department said they worked closely with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office Specialized Victims Unit.

Report continues here.

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Resident confronted by masked suspect during overnight home invasion in Barrington Hills

Posted in Crime, Lake & McHenry County Scanner, Police Reports, VBHPD on August 16, 2026| Leave a Comment »

File Photo – Barrington Hills Police Department | Photo: Nick Rusin

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

Police say they are investigating after a resident was confronted by a masked suspect during a home invasion in Barrington Hills early Sunday morning.

The Barrington Hills Police Department responded around 4:57 a.m. Sunday to the 0-100 block of Hawthorne Lane in Barrington Hills for a report of a home invasion.

A 911 caller reported that an unknown person had entered the residence.

Police officials said the occupant was in a bathroom when they heard noises and were confronted by an unknown subject.

The suspect was described as a male wearing all dark clothing and a mask.

The occupant of the home screamed and yelled during the confrontation while attempting to close the bathroom door, police officials said.

The victim was not physically injured and the suspect subsequently fled the residence.

A preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect broke a window to gain entry to the house.

Report continues here.

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(Meanwhile) Woman trapped after SUV somehow rolls over onto its side inside home’s garage near Long Grove

Posted in Lake & McHenry County Scanner on August 2, 2026| Leave a Comment »

A single-vehicle crash left an SUV rolled over onto its side inside a garage of the house, leaving the driver trapped, in the 3900 block of North Galena Avenue in unincorporated Arlington Heights, just south of Long Grove, Monday evening. | Photo: Nick Rusin

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

An elderly woman was left trapped inside her car after she somehow rolled her SUV over onto its side inside the garage of her home near Long Grove, fire officials said.

The Long Grove Fire Protection District and Cook County Sheriff’s Office responded around 7:55 p.m. Monday to the 3900 block of North Galena Avenue in unincorporated Arlington Heights, just south of Long Grove, for a vehicle crash with entrapment.

A single-vehicle crash left an SUV rolled over onto its side inside a garage of the house, leaving the driver trapped, in the 3900 block of North Galena Avenue in unincorporated Arlington Heights, just south of Long Grove, Monday evening. | Photo: Nick Rusin

Long Grove Fire Protection District Chief Paul Segalla said a 911 caller reported a vehicle was inside a garage and rolled over.

Firefighters arrived and confirmed a vehicle rolled over onto its side inside the attached garage of a single-family house.

A single-vehicle crash left an SUV rolled over onto its side inside a garage of the house, leaving the driver trapped, in the 3900 block of North Galena Avenue in unincorporated Arlington Heights, just south of Long Grove, Monday evening. | Photo: Nick Rusin

Fire crews removed the garage door so they could access the vehicle, a Toyota Corolla Cross.

They also removed the adjacent vehicle that was parked in the garage so that they could access the rolled-over car, Segalla said.

Report continues here.

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Teen dies after being ejected in rollover crash that left SUV’s engine detached from vehicle in Barrington Hills

Posted in Accidents, BCFPD, Lake & McHenry County Scanner, Police Reports, VBHPD on July 26, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Police investigate a rollover crash that resulted in severe damage and an occupant being ejected and killed at Brinker Road and Hills and Dales Road in Barrington Hills Saturday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin

By Sam Borcia | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

A teenager died after being ejected in a crash that left an SUV rolled over, resulting in its engine becoming detached from the vehicle, and two others hospitalized in Barrington Hills Saturday morning.

The Barrington Hills Police Department and Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District responded around 2:23 a.m. Saturday to the area of Brinker Road and Hills and Dales Road in Barrington Hills for a vehicle crash with injuries.

Police investigate a rollover crash that resulted in severe damage and an occupant being ejected and killed at Brinker Road and Hills and Dales Road in Barrington Hills Saturday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin

Officers arrived and found a male victim ejected from the vehicle, according to Barrington Hills Police Department Public Information Officer William Walsh.

Emergency crews began lifesaving measures but the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police investigate a rollover crash that resulted in severe damage and an occupant being ejected and killed at Brinker Road and Hills and Dales Road in Barrington Hills Saturday morning. | Photo: Nick Rusin

A preliminary investigation showed the Mercedes SUV was traveling northbound on Brinker Road, Walsh said.

The Mercedes left the roadway for unknown reasons and struck several trees.

Report continues here.

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