Suspect in Highland Park Little Caesars shooting arrested and charged with nine felonies, chief says
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Summary
Highland Park Police Chief McMahon credited officers with a fast arrest after a shooting at a Little Caesars; the department says the suspect faces nine felony charges and is described as a habitual offender. The meeting also highlighted new department resources including a clinician and reserve vehicles.
Chief McMahon said the Highland Park Police Department made a swift arrest after a recent shooting at a Little Caesars that drew local media attention and that the suspect was charged today with nine felonies.
The arrest followed a quick investigative response, McMahon told the Police Commission, and the individual is a habitual offender whom the department expects will not be a near‑term threat to the community. "The guys and girls did a great job," McMahon said, praising officers' work.
Why it matters: a string of violent incidents and an able enforcement response affect residents' sense of safety and the department's operational needs. Commissioners heard that the department has been stretched by recent emergencies, and leaders framed the arrest as an example of coordinated work across units.
Details and context: McMahon said officers detained the person a short time after the incident and specified the charge count as nine felonies. He credited timely investigative and patrol work for the outcome. The chief also reported other recent department activities, including assisting with emergency sheltering for veterans displaced from a Glendale center and coordinating with the fire department, homeland security, and the Red Cross to secure temporary shelter and hotel placements.
Department resources: McMahon said the department has taken delivery of new Ford Explorer patrol vehicles purchased through a fleet program but is keeping them in reserve rather than placing them immediately into frontline service. He also introduced a new clinician, Sherry Miller, who he said has been working with officers and community members to reduce arrests tied to mental‑health issues. "My goal is to help the number of arrests go down that's mental health related and get those individuals into treatment for the short term, long term versus jail," Miller said.
What comes next: the commission received the report and did not take formal action on the patrol fleet or clinician introduction at this meeting. McMahon said the department will continue to monitor public safety incidents and deploy resources as needed.
