Round Lake, IL – A Hainesville man was taken into custody early Saturday morning after police say he was found armed and unresponsive inside a parked van in Round Lake, prompting a high-risk encounter that involved repeated threats toward officers.
According to the Round Lake Police Department, the incident occurred around 1:24 a.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025, in the 300 block of Cedar Lake Road. A sergeant patrolling the area reported seeing an individual slumped over in the driver’s seat of a van parked in front of a closed liquor establishment. When officers approached to check his wellbeing, they allegedly observed the man holding a firearm on his lap.
Police said the officers ordered him to drop the weapon multiple times, but the individual became irate, belligerent, and repeatedly threatened to shoot the officers. Additional Round Lake units responded, and while the suspect allegedly continued to hold the handgun, an officer deployed a TASER, allowing police to safely remove him from the vehicle.
Authorities identified the individual as 33-year-old Javier Lopez of Hainesville, who police say is a documented gang member and convicted felon with multiple prior arrests. Officers recovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun at the scene.
Lopez was taken to a hospital for evaluation before being transported to the Lake County Jail for booking. According to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, multiple charges were approved, including several counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Lopez was transported to First Appearance Court later the same day.
Police noted that the incident highlights the high-risk situations officers may face during routine patrols.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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