More videos plus DNA analyzed as Illinois manhunt goes on for suspects in cop’s slaying
Investigators are hoping several new video recordings being processed by federal agencies could help produce a break in the pursuit of three men suspected of killing Fox Lake police Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz, authorities said Friday.
George Filenko, commander of the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, said videos from intersection cameras, private residents and businesses are now in the hands of the Department of Homeland Security or the FBI. The federal agents are working to put the videos in chronological order, Filenko said.
“They’re doing that today, as we speak. Once that’s ready, we’ll be set to review those,” Filenko said. “We’ve been contacted by a number of sources overnight who have also provided some video that we didn’t even realize was in the area.”
“There are different cameras that are putting the story together,” Filenko added.
The home surveillance tape obtained Wednesday night and immediately sent to Homeland Security is not considered a “golden nugget” to the case, Filenko said. He said that there had been “a little bit of difficulty” pulling that video from its hard drive, and that it would be turned over to the FBI as well if collected.
Video from traffic cameras mounted at intersections by the Lake County Division of Transportation, which has cameras in Fox Lake at Route 12 and Old Grand Avenue as well as at Old Grand and Rollins Road, are also expected to be delivered to investigators.
“We’re optimistic about all these videos,” he said, adding that “there’s a commonality there” regarding what is seen.
Filenko also said everyone interviewed during the canvassing of the community had been asked to submit DNA. Those people aren’t necessarily considered suspects, Filenko said.
Filenko confirmed for the first time that the gun recovered from the crime scene belonged to Gliniewicz and was found near his body. Filenko would not say whether that .40-caliber gun was fired, or how many times or where Gliniewicz was hit.
Filenko reiterated that investigators believed the suspects remained in the Fox Lake area. He was then asked whether investigators had a sense of whether the suspects had fled the crime scene on foot or in a vehicle.
“Based on where the area is, the initial escape from that area is going to be on foot,” he said. “Whether there was a car located in that area, I can’t answer that question. We haven’t confirmed any of that yet.”
“We’re hoping they’re still in our area, within our reach,” Filenko added.
With the Labor Day weekend approaching and boaters set to gather on the Chain O’ Lakes, Filenko offered reassurance that the public would be in no danger in visiting Fox Lake, about 55 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.
“With the amount of police presence here, and our investigators in the field supported by saturation patrols from the Sheriff’s Office and the State Police,” he said, “I think that the community should feel safe.”
While the manhunt is now in its fourth day, Motorola Solutions has pledged $50,000 to anyone who provides a tip that leads to an arrest. Additional corporate donations have come in to add to the reward, authorities said.
The FBI has also offered to fully staff a 24/7 tip line at 1-800-Call-FBI. A website has been created as well at www.fbi.gov/foxlake.
“We’re not going to stop until we make an arrest,” said Filenko, who was joined by John Brown, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Chicago Division.
Twitter @NewsSunDanMoran
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