Law & Order column: Former Lake County prosecutor honored
Grayslake attorney Michael Perillo was recently named the 2025 recipient of the Robert H. Jackson Award by the Lake County Bar Association.
Perillo, 70, who recently retired after 42 years in the practice of law, was given the award during a March 18 ceremony. Lake County judges Michael Nerheim and Patricia Fix nominated him.
The award goes to a former prosecutor, 'who has distinguished himself in public service and whose commitment to justice and serving the communities where he lives is particularly praiseworthy.'
Perillo's law career began as an active-duty judge advocate general attorney in the 1980s while serving in the U.S. Navy. He later served as a special public defender and special assistant state's attorney in Lake County before entering private practice in 1992.
'I am exceptionally honored to have received this award from the Lake County Bar Association and cannot thank Judge Nerheim and Judge Fix enough for putting me up for this award,' Perillo said. 'Without question, Robert H. Jackson is an inspiration to those of us who practiced as prosecuting attorneys. This award will always be very special to me, and the fact that the award is named in honor of Justice Jackson makes it all the more special.'
Jackson was a former associate justice of the Supreme Court who served as the chief prosecutor of Nazi war crimes at the Nuremberg trials following World War II.
Subdued with Taser
A Mundelein man is facing drug and weapons charges after Lake County sheriff's deputies said they found a stolen firearm in his possession during a traffic stop.
The sheriff's office Special Investigations Group said it stopped Benjamin Rodriguez, 29, of the 900 block of Stratford Lane, on March 27 on Illinois Route 83 in Mundelein.
Police said they saw controlled substances in plain sight on Rodríguez's face and on the driver's seat. After exiting his vehicle, he became combative and attempted to re-enter his car, police said
Officers used a Taser to subdue Rodriguez, and found a loaded handgun in the front waistband of his pants. They also found several packets of suspected fentanyl in his pockets, police said.
Two officers were exposed to an airborne powder during the incident and were treated at a hospital for possible fentanyl exposure.
Zion first responders recognized
Zion recognized firefighters and police officers recently for their brave and meritorious actions in two different instances.
Officers Conor Lima and Dante Burchfield were cited for aiding a woman during a house fire in October. Lima located a woman in a nearby residence who was suffering from smoke inhalation and was able to help her out of her house. The woman collapsed and Burchfield stepped in to help her and Lima, who was also suffering from smoke inhalation.
Officers Haley Pacholsky and Tai Coggins and Fire Lt. Nicholas Urbanik were recognized for their efforts to help an elderly man during a January call. The man was destitute and living in poor conditions, including a non-working furnace.
The officers bought the man a meal and convinced him to seek medical help. While firefighters were assessing the man's condition, Urbanik repaired the man's furnace.
Dangerous game
Antioch police are warning that a game called 'Senior Assassin' could have some potentially dangerous outcomes.
In the game, students target fellow students for 'assassination' by stalking them and shooting them with water guns.
Police said that residents may mistake students for actual armed subjects, leading to unwarranted calls to police. The situation could become dangerous should police or armed citizens think that the students are armed with actual firearms.
There are also potential legal issues; participants could face charges for things like disorderly conduct or even aggravated assault in certain situations.
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