Police: Lake Villa Township men found with stolen car, firearms

LAKE VILLA TOWNSHIP -- Two Lake Villa Township men were charged with possession of stolen property after Lake County Sheriff’s deputies discovered a stolen vehicle and other items at their home, according to police.

About 8 a.m. March 29, Lake County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence in the 37100 block of Piper Lane, unincorporated Lake Villa, during a stolen vehicle investigation. Sheriff’s deputies located a vehicle that had been stolen from the 37900 block of North Watts Avenue, unincorporated Spring Grove, earlier the same day, according to a news release.

Sheriff’s deputies tried to make contact with the residents inside the Piper Lane home, but no one came to the door.

Sheriff’s deputies remained on the scene and were seeking a search warrant, as it was believed additional stolen property was inside the home. About 5 p.m., a man exited the home. He told police he lived at the home and that there were five more people inside, and they possessed numerous firearms. Two more individuals then came out of the house. One of the individuals who remained inside, Wayne M. Mikulski, 41, of the same address, is a parolee through the Illinois Department of Corrections, police said.

After learning the information about the home’s occupants being armed, sheriff’s deputies established a perimeter around the home.

Members of the sheriff’s office patrol division, special investigations division, criminal investigations division, and tactical response team entered the home. They took Mikulski into custody as well as Elliot Ventura, 31, of the same address. Sheriff’s detectives recovered stolen property that was previously stolen in area thefts and burglaries, police said.

Following yesterday’s investigation sheriff’s detectives reviewed the facts and circumstances with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the following charges:

In addition to a parole violation warrant, Mikulski was charged with five counts of unlawful use or possession of a weapon by a felon and unlawful possession of stolen registration.

Ventura was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, unlawful possession of stolen property and theft.

Sheriff John D. Idleburg said, “This is an example of great police work which led to several victims being able to recover their stolen items. Additionally, five firearms were seized from a convicted felon who is not authorized to possess such weapons.”

Mikulski remains held without bail, due to his parole violation warrant and his next court date is pending. Ventura’s bail was set at $20,000. He is next due in court on April 20 at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom T020.

Sheriff’s detectives continue to investigate, and additional charges are possible.