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Crime & Courts

Police: Oakwood Hills man who previously fled from officers had children around drugs, needles

33-year-old faces possession, child endangerment charges

A man who police said fled officers at high speeds in May was arrested again Thursday after authorities allege he had children in a home where syringes and drugs were strewn about.

Erik M. Schnell, of the zero to 100 block of Lakewood Drive, Oakwood Hills, remained at the McHenry County Jail on Friday on a $40,000 bond. He must post $4,000 bail to be released.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested the 33-year-old Thursday. According to a criminal complaint, Schnell allowed two children, ages 3 and 5, access to a bedroom where there were hypodermic syringes, suspected heroin, multiple bottles of prescription medications and drug paraphernalia within their reach, “littering the shelves, furniture and floor.”

Police were not available to comment on how they came in contact with Schnell or his relationship to the children.

Schnell is charged with possession of a controlled substance and child endangerment. If convicted of possession of a controlled substance, he could be sentenced to as many as three years in prison.

He is expected to make a court appearance Tuesday. Schnell also is charged in a separate May 4 case with aggravated fleeing, obstructing identification, reckless driving and speeding more than 35 miles more than the speed limit, public records filed in McHenry County court show.

In a court filing, Algonquin police said Schnell fled from officers at 92 mph in a 45 mph zone. When he was stopped for speeding, the man gave police a false name, according to a criminal complaint.

Schnell was convicted in 2011 of aggravated reckless driving and ordered to spend 364 days in the McHenry County Jail, records show. He also was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to forgery and misusing a credit card in 2007.

Katie Smith

Katie Smith

Katie reported on the crime and courts beat for the Northwest Herald from 2017 through 2021. She began her career with Shaw Media in 2015 at the Daily Chronicle in DeKalb, where she reported on the courts, city council, the local school board, and business.