Following the robbery, Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives continued their thorough investigation.  Detectives coordinated with other local police departments and Lake County Sheriff’s Correctional Officers, in an attempt to determine the identity of the offender.  

Detectives were able to identify the offender as Gil Orlando Melendez, 32, of the 600 block of County Street, Waukegan.  Sheriff’s Detectives also identified Melendez as being the offender in a retail theft, where he stole cigarettes from a gas station in the 39100 block of North Route 41, Wadsworth, on November 24, 2018.  

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Melendez for the following:

Aggravated Robbery (Class 1 Felony)  

Theft (Class 4 Felony)

On December 5, 2018, following the issuance of the arrest warrant, Melendez was arrested in front of a residence on 10th Street in North Chicago by North Chicago PD.  He is being held in the Lake County Jail on $150,000.00 bail.  He is due in court this morning.

Sheriff John Idleburg said, “Our detectives have been investigating this incident since it occurred.  Through their investigative work and collaboration with our correctional personnel, as well as local police departments, they quickly identified the offender and obtained an arrest warrant. I am very proud of our staff working together to bring these cases to a fast resolution.”

Sheriff Idleburg reminds the public the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.