Regional Police Report: Woman Dies in Route 83 Crash; Naperville Cops Probe Diamond Heist

Long Grove

1 Dead, 2 Hurt in Route 83 Crash

A woman was killed in a crash near Route 83 and Westmoreland in Long Grove Thursday evening when her vehicle collided with a red 2007 Ford F150.

The woman, whose name is being withheld pending proper notification, was driving a blue 2011 Honda CRV, according to Sgt. Sara Balmes with the Lake County Sheriff's Office. The female passenger in the Honda was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with life-threatening injuries, Balmes said.

The male driver of the Ford was also transported to Advocate Condell, said Balmes.

The accident is under investigation.

Evanston

Husband and Wife Suspected of Dealing 'Crack'

Evanston police arrested a Des Plaines husband and wife on Tuesday after they found “crack” cocaine and $450 cash in their car, police said.

Tracy A. Strawther, 31, and Maxx D. Strawther 33, of the 9200 block of Fairway Drive in Des Plaines, are each charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, both felonies, according to police.

Plainclothes police officers were dispatched to the area of Wesley Avenue and Lee Street after a tipster called to report a possible drug deal at the intersection around 10:30 a.m. Police spotted the Strawther’s vehicle, which matched the caller’s description, and conducted an investigative stop, police said.

Officers found more than 60 grams of “crack” cocaine in the center console, as well as $450 in cash, police said.

Naperville

Police Seek Thieves in Diamonds Heist

Naperville police are looking for help after diamonds were stolen from a jewelry store in south Naperville last week.

Police said a man and two women stole "numerous" loose diamonds from Precious Fine Jewelry, 2835 Show Place Dr. Suite 119, around noon on Monday, Aug. 26.    

The thieves were able to distract an employee and leave the store with the diamonds, according to police.

The man is described as Hispanic, 20-25 years old, 5 feet and about 150 pounds.

Both women were also Hispanic, 20-25 years of age, slightly taller than the man and around 130 pounds, according to police.

Police are offering a $1,000 reward to anyone with information leading to an arrest.

St. Charles

Police Investigate Courthouse Bomb Threats

Kane County investigators are pursuing a few leads as they try to learn who was responsible for a bomb threat that sparked the evacuation of the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles, as well as other court offices in St. Charles and Elgin on Wednesday morning.

A search of the three offices yielded no suspicious items, and all three offices reopened by 1 p.m. No arrests have been made, according to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office.

“Due to the ongoing investigation we are not going to release additional specific details about the incident at this time,” stated a release from sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Pat Gengler.  Lt. Pat Gengler.

Word of the series of bomb threats hit social media when they were publicized by the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office (follow @KaneSAO) over its Twitter feed at 10:21 a.m. Tuesday.