A former Park City police officer was found guilty this month of sexually abusing a woman he had pulled over for a traffic stop.
Patrick Cacho, 29, was found guilty of 20 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and misconduct by a Lake County jury. Cacho testified in his own defense and denied the allegations.
He was charged in April after the victim reported to authorities that she had been assaulted by Cacho in separate incidents in December 2025 and January. An investigation by the Illinois State Police led to the charges.
“He intimidated and abused a member of our community when we were trusting him to protect people,” State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said. “At trial, our experienced prosecutors were able to demonstrate that the victim had bravely told the truth from the witness stand while this offender had told incredible lies.”
Cacho could face up to seven years in prison on the most serious charge. He is due back in court Dec. 17.
Victim identified
Lake County authorities this week identified the man killed in an Oct. 16 car crash in Zion.
Davie Allen, 67, of Zion, died of head and neck blunt force injuries, the Lake County Coroner’s Office said.
Allen was ejected from his car in a collision at 6:43 p.m. on Oct. 16 at the intersection of Green Bay Road and Stonebridge Road in Zion.
Police said a woman driving an Audi was headed north on Green Bay when Allen began turning onto the road from Stonebridge Avenue. The Audi collided with Allen’s Chevrolet Uplander.
The woman was trapped in her car. Bystanders began CPR on Allen, who was ejected from his vehicle. He was brought to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at around 7:20 p.m., police said.
The crash remains under investigation.
Single-car crash
The coroner’s office released the identity of a Lake Villa area man who died in a single-car crash on Oct. 15 near McHenry.
Jose Hernandez, 23, died when his car ran off the road around 1:30 a.m. near West Neville Avenue and West Dowell Road. His car struck several trees, and Hernandez was ejected from his Audi S4.
Halloween warning
Waukegan and Gurnee police announced that they will be on the lookout for drunk and impaired driving during the Halloween season.
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“Halloween should be about costumes, candy and making memories, not preventable tragedies,” Gurnee Chief Jeremy Gaughan said. “Whether you’re heading to a Halloween party or driving through neighborhoods filled with trick-or-treaters, we all have a responsibility to keep our roads safe. If your plans include alcohol or cannabis, make sure they don’t include driving.”
Firearm recovered
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said it arrested a man this month for a February incident involving a firearm.
Ricardo Perez, 35, of Beach Park, was arrested on charges of being an armed habitual criminal, unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and unlawful possession.
Police were called at around 7:05 a.m. on Feb. 16 to the area of Beach Road and Loyola Avenue for a report of a person yelling into his phone while standing in the road. The man fled on foot when officers arrived, throwing a handgun into a yard.
Although police were not able to locate the man, they recovered the gun, and a K-9 found a cell phone. Police said evidence found on the device and fingerprints on the handgun led to Perez. He was taken into custody Wednesday.
“Even when someone flees the scene, the investigation doesn’t stop there,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “Our detectives followed the evidence and developed the information needed to identify the suspect and make an arrest.”