On July 12, 2019, at approximately 1:50AM, a Fox Lake Police Officer was conducting a traffic stop on Route 12, in the area of Lake Vista Terrace, Unincorporated Spring Grove.  A second Fox Lake Police Officer arrived at the traffic stop to provide assistance.  The officer exited his squad car, after activating the squad’s emergency lights.  

After the officer exited the squad car, a northbound Volkswagen SUV, driven by Clinton P. Harris-Snelten, 30, of the 37900 block of North Harold Place, Unincorporated Spring Grove, failed to yield and crashed into the rear of the Fox Lake Squad.  

Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to assist at the scene.  Harris-Snelten was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol.  He was arrested by Sheriff’s Deputies and transported to the Lake County Jail where he was subsequently charged with:

Two Counts of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Scott’s Law Violation

Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident

Driving Without Insurance 

Harris-Snelten was processed and released on a $3,000.00 Recognizance Bond pending a return court date of August 5, 2019, at 9:00AM in courtroom C404.

Fortunately, nobody was injured as a result of the crash. 

Fox Lake Chief of Police Jimmy Lee said, “This reckless act could have resulted in the loss of life or serious injury.  I’m very grateful our officers weren’t injured, nor were the occupants of the vehicle they had pulled over.”

Sheriff John Idleburg said, “It is dangerous enough being a first-responder without having to worry about intoxicated motorists striking emergency vehicles with their emergency lights activated.  It’s simple: don’t drink and drive and move over for vehicles with flashing/rotating lights!”

Sheriff Idleburg reminds the community all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.