A man suspected in a string of break-ins and armed robberies was charged after a three-hour standoff with police in Zion, authorities said.
Cleounsee Fisher, 18, was charged with two counts of armed robbery after he was taken into custody Tuesday night in the 2200 block of Eschol Avenue, Zion police said.
Police said they received multiple reports over the previous weekend of armed robberies and attempted vehicle carjackings. Witnesses described a similar subject, linking the crimes, and an additional armed robbery was reported early Tuesday.
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Police said their investigation led them to identify Fisher as a suspect, and a search warrant was obtained for the residence where he was staying. He was inadvertently tipped off to the presence of police as they prepared to execute their warrant, which led to the stand-off.
Authorities worked with two nearby schools to ensure that students and staff were dismissed while the stand-off continued. After the schools were cleared, police entered Fisher’s residence and took him into custody without incident.
Police said they recovered items consistent with the robberies. Additional charges against Fisher are expected, police said.
Lake County prosecutors filed to detain Fisher, and he was ordered to remain in jail as his case progresses through the court system.
Firefighter arrested
An off-duty Wauconda firefighter was recently arrested on drug charges, the department said in a statement.
Although the statement from Division Chief Mike DaValle did not name the firefighter, authorities confirmed his identity as Chandler Vandermeer.
According to court records, Vandermeer was arrested Aug. 22 by Lake Zurich police. He is facing charges of manufacturing and delivering cocaine and fentanyl, according to Lake County Court records.
In his statement, DaValle said the fire department was aware of the charges and that it is investigating the details. He declined to further discuss the arrest, citing the ongoing investigation.
“The fire district remains committed to maintaining the highest level of professionalism, integrity, and public trust,” he said. “The alleged actions of this employee of the fire district do not reflect the dedication and professionalism of the men and women who serve our community each day.”
Rowing for a cause
Tip of the sailor’s cap to the Round Lake Park Police who have been giving a rowing machine a workout this month to help Special Olympics. Officers have been participating this month in the Row for Dough Challenge.
The team from RLPPD planned to log 26.2 miles on rowing machines, and team members gathered pledges, which will be donated to Special Olympics.
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As of Friday, the team had raised about $2,000. If you want to pledge in the last few days, you can find a link on the Round Lake Park Police Facebook page.