A Wauconda police dog was injured while helping apprehend a man who fled on foot following a traffic stop Tuesday, authorities said.
Around 5:50 p.m., a Wauconda police officer patrolling the area of Route 12 and Bonner Road received a notification about a maroon Hyundai Elantra with Illinois registration. The alert identified the vehicle as being linked to organized crime and multiple retail thefts, police said. The officer saw the vehicle traveling northbound on Route 12 and conducted a traffic stop near Case Road after noting unlawful window tints, police said.
The driver, identified as Carlos Bautista Figuera, was carrying a passenger who provided inconsistent personal information. When the officer attempted to verify the passenger’s identity, the person fled on foot toward Deacon’s Restaurant & Bar at the Golf Farm, police said.
During the pursuit, the officer observed the passenger reaching into his pocket and issued multiple warnings before deploying K9 officer Skye. The man, Jose Barico-Pena, 27, was transported to First Appearance court and charged with two counts of injuring a police canine. He also was found to have multiple outstanding felony warrants, police said.