A lawsuit was filed against the man who committed reckless homicide in the accident

A Beach Park man was arraigned this month on reckless homicide charges stemming from a 2022 single-car crash that killed a passenger.

Marco J. Pena, 21, pleaded not guilty Feb. 20 in Lake County Court. A grand jury indicted him on Jan. 31 on a single count of reckless homicide in the crash that claimed the life of 18-year-old Zion resident Jadyn R. Pagan.

Pena was driving a vehicle that crashed into a utility pole at the intersection of 9th Street and Lorelei Drive at 3:49 a.m. on April 4, 2022, in Zion. Pagan was pronounced dead. An autopsy revealed that he died from blunt force trauma.

The Major Crash Assistance Team worked with Zion police on the investigation before the case was presented to the grand jury.

According to Zion police, the charging decision was based on readings from the vehicle that was speeding on wet roads and grass before the crash, as well as indications that Pena took no action to slow down prior to the crash.

Pena is expected to appear in court again in April for case management, and a hearing date has been set for May, according to court records.

Meth and guns

Zion police arrested a Waukegan man this month on charges of selling methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm.

Hector Mejia, 36, was taken into custody Feb. 13 by Zion tactical officers who executed a search warrant at his home on Atlantic Avenue.

Zion police said they received information in January that Mejia was selling meth and that officers were purchasing drugs undercover.

During the search, police seized several firearms, magazines and ammunition, as well as suspected meth. Police said Mejia is a convicted felon and therefore ineligible to possess a firearm.

He was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, as well as a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm, authorities said.

drone rescue

A search and rescue worker flying a drone recently located a missing elderly man with dementia and helped him safely reunite with his family.

The Regional Search and Rescue Strike Team was dispatched to Round Lake Tuesday night after local police requested assistance in the search for the missing man. Officers with K9s and additional support personnel arrived.

A crew member named John Hutchins of the Niles Fire Department, who lives near Round Lake, arrived and deployed a drone to conduct an aerial search. Within 20 minutes he spotted a heat signature in the field and was able to direct other officers to the missing man’s location.

Police said the man was cold but otherwise in good condition. Police officers from Round Lake Beach and Round Lake Park and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in the search.