New Lenox Man Carrying Live Grenades Causes Evacuation at Lemont McDonald's

Lemont Police evacuated the McDonald’s at 1152 State St. after discovering live grenades in a vehicle in the restaurant’s parking lot Sept. 16.

The explosive devices were discovered as police and Lemont Fire Department personnel responded to the report of a man passed out in his vehicle in the parking lot of the restaurant at about 9:30 p.m.

According to a press release from the Lemont Police Department, responding officers found a man lying outside the open door of a car, incoherent and unable to communicate with police or fire department personnel, who had also responded to the call.

While attempting to render first aid to the man, a police officer saw what appeared to be a grenade device on the center console of the man’s vehicle.

Lemont Fire Department transported the man, George Crocker, 39, of the 221 Haines Ave. in New Lenox, to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox while police evacuated the restaurant and surrounding area.

An investigation by the Cook County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad found a second grenade device in the vehicle and safely removed both devices and transported them to a safe location.

The department of (ATF) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were notified and are assisting in the investigation.  Authorities say field testing confirmed that both devices contained a military-grade high explosive compound and were capable of detonating.

Police report that officers also found suspected narcotics in the vehicle, and an investigation is ongoing to determine if any other unaccounted explosive devices were involved.

Crocker was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon and two counts of possession of a controlled substance. He was held for processing and transported to Cook County Circuit Court in Bridgeview on Sept. 19, where his bond was set at $300,000. Crocker’s next court date is Oct. 9.

Editor's note: The above information was provided in a press release sent to Patch Sept. 26 by the Lemont Police Department.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

• Sign up for breaking news alerts

• Like us on Facebook for a slightly different take.