Man Firing Gun Into Air to Celebrate New Year is 1st Lake Co. Sheriff’s Office Call of 2017

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Waukegan man and seized several of his firearms while responding to their first call of 2017 in Wadsworth.

The man, Roberto Lara, 37, of the 2600 block of West Hendee Road in Waukegan, allegedly began shooting into the air “to celebrate the New Year,” shortly after midnight on Sunday, Christopher Covelli, spokesman for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, said in a news release.

Authorities were called to a home in the area of 14600 West Wadsworth Road in Wadsworth just after 12 a.m. after receiving reports of a man shooting a handgun into the air.

When officers arrived, witnesses said Lara had left the scene, according to Covelli. Sheriff’s deputies located the offender’s vehicle in the area of North Delany Road and West Wadsworth Road.

After conducting a traffic stop on the vehicle, they arrested Lara, 37. He was transported to the Lake County Jail and has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon, which is a class A misdemeanor, according to a news release.

Lara was released from custody after posting bond. He is next expected in court on Jan. 17.