On May 18, 2016, Lake County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence in the 200 block of Juneway Terrace, Unincorporated Lake Bluff, for a report of a residential burglary. Sheriff’s deputies arrived and found entry was forced to the residence, while nobody was home. Numerous items of value, including a firearm, were stolen during the burglary.
During the investigation, Lake County Sheriff’s detectives spoke with neighbors, to determine if anyone in the area observed anything suspicious. An alert neighborhood resident informed detectives of a suspicious vehicle being driven through the area during the time of the burglary. The resident provided detectives with a license plate and a description of the vehicle.
On May 29, 2016, a Park City Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Theopolis Owens, 25, of the 700 block of South Chestnut Avenue, Park City. A passenger in the vehicle, Martell Ford, of the 2100 block of 18th Street, Milwaukee, WI, was found to be in possession of the firearm stolen during the residential burglary.
Park City Police notified Lake County Sheriff’s Detectives, who were able to confirm the vehicle Owens was driving matched the description of the suspicious vehicle seen in the area of the residential burglary.
Through further investigation, sheriff’s detectives developed information that the additional items stolen during the residential burglary were located at the residence of Owens.
On May 31, 2016, Lake County Sheriff’s detectives obtained and conducted a search warrant at Owens’ residence, where the remaining burglary proceeds were recovered.
Owens was subsequently charged with Residential Burglary (Class 1 Felony), Possession of Stolen Property (Class 3), and Theft Over $500 (Class 3 Felony). Owens is currently being held in the Lake County Jail on $50,000.00 Bail. He is due in court on June 9, 2016, at 1:30 PM in courtroom C-120.
Park City Police Department charged Ford with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon (Class 2 Felony), and two counts of Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class 4 Felonies). He is currently being held in the Lake County Jail on $100,000.00 Bail. He is due back in court on June 3, 2016, at 1:30 PM, in courtroom C-120.
Sheriff Curran reminds the public the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.