Winthrop Harbor Man Charged for Threatening Phone Calls to Highland Park Synagogue
City of Highland Park worked with Lake County State's Attorney leading to class 3 felony charges
Highland Park, Illinois - On Monday, October 29, 2018 at approximately 5:30 PM, the Highland Park Police Department responded to the Central Avenue Synagogue, located in the 800 block of Central Avenue in Highland Park, IL, regarding a phone call containing threatening statements that was received by synagogue staff. Highland Park Police were already operating with increased patrols focusing on local religious institutions following the Pittsburgh synagogue incident and collaborated with representatives of local religious institutions to enact security plans. At this time, there is no current credible threat to any local religious institutions or other establishments in Highland Park.
Highland Park Police Detectives conducted an investigation in collaboration with state and federal law enforcement authorities and identified the caller as Dean R. West, 39 years old, of the 1100 Block of Sheridan Road in Winthrop Harbor, IL.
The incident was reviewed by the Lake County State's Attorney's Office and the following charges were approved:
Hate Crime 720 ILCS 5/12-7.1 Class 3 Felony
Suspect: Dean R. West
On November 1, 2018, Mr. West was arrested on a Lake County warrant by Highland Park Police Detectives who were assisted by the Lake County Sheriff's Office Warrants Team in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Service-Great Lakes Regional Task Force. West was remanded into custody at the Lake County Jail with a $250,000 bond.
*The subject listed above has been charged with a crime. The charge is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.