Parolee Charged After Waukegan Standoff

A parolee was charged after he barricaded himself inside a three-story apartment building in Waukegan Friday morning after an argument with a woman, officials said.

Donald Palmer, 37, of the 300 block of George Avenue, was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, unlawful possession of firearm ammunition by a felon, unlawful possession of a stolen firearm, obstruction of justice and violation of parole, Waukegan police said Saturday.

Police received a call around 10:50 a.m. Friday from an apartment in the 300 block of George Avenue where the caller said nothing and hung up, according to Sergeant Dave DeBaufer with the Waukegan Police Department.

No one answered the phone when police attempted to call back and a call history showed past domestic disputes, police said.
Officers responding to the scene spoke with a woman outside the building who said she had been arguing with Palmer, who was still inside and was believed to have a handgun.

An active arrest warrant had been issued for Palmer in connection with a shooting in the neighborhood a week earlier where a man was shot in the back.

Police made contact with Palmer, but after several attempts to get him out of the building, officers surrounded the building and used a bullhorn to make multiple demands for Palmer to exit.

Officials said two residents who were inside the three-flat apartment complex at the time were able to exit unharmed.
Area schools were put on lockdown and several streets were blocked.

Schools were released around 4 p.m. and automated telephone messages were sent to area residents ordering them to remain in the lowest possible level of their homes, police said.

Gas was deployed around 7:40 p.m. to force Palmer out of the building, which he refused to leave, police said. A SWAT team entered the building and Palmer was taken into custody without incident. A .22 caliber gun was also recovered in the building, believed to be in Palmer’s possession, police said.

Tenants are expected to be able to return to their homes Saturday evening, according to authorities.

Palmer was paroled to the area in March after serving prison time for a previous robbery conviction, according to Waukegan Police. It is expected that his parole will be revoked and he will serve the remaining time on his prison sentence as well as any additional charges he may be convicted of.

He is scheduled to appear at a bond hearing Sunday at the Lake County Jail facility in Waukegan.
 

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