Police Dog Tracks Down Man Accused Of Beating, Choking Woman

WAUKEGAN, IL — A man who broke into a woman's home before beating and strangling her was arrested by sheriff's deputies after he was tracked down early Thursday by a canine unit, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office. Lonnie J. Henderson, 39, with no permanent address, was charged with two counts of felony domestic battery – one aggravated by strangulation and the other by previous convictions – as well as misdemeanor disorderly conduct and criminal damage for damaging a door during the break-in, according to the sheriff's office.

Police received a 911 call around 2:20 a.m. from a woman in her 20s in the 18700 block of West Ash Drive in unincorporated Gurnee. She reported Henderson, her former partner, had forced his way into her home and attacked her, the sheriff's office said.

The woman told officers Henderson had beaten her and choked her before she was able to escape, according to the sheriff's office. Paramedics treated the woman on scene for her injuries.

Henderson had fled the scene by the time sheriff's deputies arrived, so they called in K9 Dax and his handler to carry out a track, according to the sheriff's office.

Dax tracked Henderson for about a half mile and found him hiding in a marshy area near a business around 3:45 a.m., according to Sgt. Chris Covelli.

"Once K9 Dax barked at Henderson, he surrendered and was arrested without incident," Covelli said in a statement.

As of Thursday evening, Henderson was being held at Lake County Jail in lieu of a $20,000 cash portion of his bond. He is due back in court Oct. 26, according to the sheriff's office.