MONTHLY ARCHIVES: September 2017

Media Release September 18, 2017 Antioch, IL- On September 14, 2017, an off-duty Antioch Police Officer was returning to Antioch from training while driving a police vehicle. Around 5:00pm he noticed that a silver vehicle appeared to be following him. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as 68 year old David L. Larsen, of the 39000 block of Lake Avenue in unincorporated Lake Villa, was witnessed by the officer flailing his arms about the vehicle, in what appeared to be an agitated state. Larsen’s behavior continued to be highly erratic, as he followed the officer through several turns. The officer pulled into the Antioch Police Department with Larsen following him into the main driveway. The officer activated his emergency lighting and stopped his squad car to initiate contact with Larsen. At that that time Larsen stopped his car, held his hand out of the window making a universal handgun gesture pointed in the officer’s direction, and mimicked the action of a gun discharging. As the officer attempted to confront Larsen, he placed his car in gear and fled, nearly running over a second responding officer, before driving over the sidewalk. Antioch Police briefly pursued the vehicle, however the pursuit was quickly terminated to reduce the risk to the public. The officer who was nearly struck suffered minor injuries sustained while leaping from the path of the vehicle. A short time later, another Antioch Officer located Larsen in his vehicle at the intersection of Main Street and Orchard Street. Larsen was again yelling aggressively at Officer’s and making similar handgun gestures at the officer while shouting “bang.” During this encounter with Larsen, officers tased him through his open vehicle window, but he was able to overcome the effects of the Taser Device and once again fled. Due to Larsen’s dangerous and unpredictable driving behavior, officers did not pursue due to a large pedestrian presence in the area where a farmer’s market was taking place. On September 15th Antioch Police obtained a $75,000 arrest warrant for Larsen and he was subsequently taken into custody at his home by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. He was later turned over to the custody of the Lake County Jail. Larsen has been charged with the following offenses: – Aggravated Assault on Police Officer – Class 3 Felony (Punishable by 2-5 years imprisonment and up to a $25,000 fine) – Aggravated Assault – Class 4 Felony (Punishable by 1-3 years imprisonment and up to a $25,000 fine) – Two Charges of Aggravated Fleeing a Police Officer- Class 4 Felonies (Each punishable by 1-3 years imprisonment and up to a $25,000 fine.

On Sunday evening shortly before 8:00pm, Antioch Police responded to a single vehicle motorcycle crash at the intersection of North Avenue and Nelson Road, which resulted in the death of 57 year old man from unincorporated Antioch. The preliminary investigation shows the motorcycle was traveling southbound on Nelson Road, and for reasons not yet determined, it did not stop at the “t” intersection. The motorcycle crossed over North Avenue and left the roadway when it struck a tree, resulting in the driver being thrown from the motorcycle. The Antioch Fire Department transported the driver, who is not being identified at this time, to Condell Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the Antioch Police Department, with the assistance of the Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team.