Round Lake Park police arrest two Waukegan men with help of K-9

Round Lake Park police arrested two Waukegan men and recovered a handgun and drugs following an attempted traffic stop that turned into a police chase that ended in a marsh and involved a police K-9 unit.

Jarvis J. Smith, 27, of the 1200 block of Brookside, Waukegan, is charged with unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, possession of cannabis and possession of cannabis of 25 or more grams, obstruction of justice and resisting arrest.

Darius D. Dixon, 27, of the 40 block of North Jackson Street, Waukegan, is charged with obstruction of justice and is also being held for a parole violation.

Both are being held at the Lake County jail on a $150,000 bond.

Round Lake Park police said that at approximately 10:30 p.m. Friday, an officer attempted to stop a red 2011 Chevrolet, which was traveling east on Route 134 for an equipment violation.

The vehicle, occupied by three people, continued traveling into a business area until the vehicle reached a dead end on Center Street at Route 134 in Hainesville. The vehicle's occupants then fled on foot eastbound into a marshy area.

A perimeter was set up, with the assistance of Grayslake officers, while the Lake Villa police department responded with a K-9 unit.

All three suspects were apprehended, and officers recovered a fully loaded 9 mm semiautomatic handgun, 15 grams of crack cocaine and 25 grams of cannabis.

According to Round Lake Park police, one of the suspects told police that as soon as he heard the barking K-9, he surrendered, saying it was undoubtedly the smartest decision he made that night.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.