Search Continues For Man Involved In Cook, Lake Co. Crime Spree: Cops

GRAYSLAKE, IL — Grayslake Police are continuing to search for a man who is wanted in connection with a crime spree in Cook and Lake counties, including the armed robbery of a Portillo’s in Gurnee.

Police announced on Monday that a manhunt is ongoing for Eric J. Gatlin, who last had an address in Elgin, police said in a social media post on Monday. Grayslake Police said that Gatlin is wanted in connection with several incidents and is described as being armed and dangerous.

Grayslake Police told Patch on Tuesday that the search is the reason that Grayslake schools were placed on temporary lockdown on Monday after police determined the suspect to be dangerous.

Police describe Gatlin as being 5-foot-11, bald, and having brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a Chicago Bears sweatshirt and jeans and was last seen in the Grayslake and Round Lake Beach area around noon on Monday.

Police said that they began searching for Gatlin after he crashed the car he was driving, a white Lexus RX SUV, which police said they believe to be stolen. Police said that Gatlin crashed the vehicle into a tree in the 1400 block of Churchill Lake in Grayslake on Sunday night.

On Monday, several District 46 schools, including Meadowview School and Avon Center School were placed on soft lockdown before District 127 schools and the Lake County Tech campus was placed on lockdown while the search continued.

Police announced that Gatlin was driving a stolen Ford transit van on Monday after they said the vehicle was reported taken from a Round Lake Beach-area Goodwill store. Police said shortly after, a local Portillo’s reported the armed robbery.

Grayslake Police said that local residents should not try to confront the suspect if they come into contact with him, but should instead call 911.

Anyone with information about Gatlin's whereabouts is asked to contact the Grayslake Police Department at (847) 223-2341 with information.