Zion Man Gets 27 Years For 2016 Attempted Police Officer Murder

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A Zion man was sentenced to 27 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections Monday for attempted murder of a police officer, Lake County State's Attorney Michael G. Nerheim announced in a news release from the state's attorney's office. Olvan Quezada, 22, of the 2900 block of 30th Street, was sentenced on attempted first degree murder of a peace officer charges for his role in a June 17, 2016 shooting in the 3000 block of Arthur Court in Waukegan, the news release said.

He was also sentenced to 19 years in prison on charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm involving a peace officer, 10 years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a gang member, and 5 years for possession of a defaced firearm, the state's attorney's office said, adding that the prison sentences will be served at the same time.

In addition, Quezada was ordered to serve 3 years of mandatory supervised release after completing his prison sentence.

"We need to do everything in our power to protect those who are sworn to protect us, and we are extremely fortunate this event did not end in a more tragic way," Nerheim said, in the news release. "I'd like to congratulate the officers and police departments in Waukegan and Park City and the attorney's in my office for all their hard work on this case."

Around 2 a.m. on the day of the shooting, Waukegan Police Department officers were called to the 3000 block of Arthur Court for a domestic disturbance report, police officials said, according to the news release. That's where an officer heard multiple gunshots, and was able to arrest two people, the state's attorney's office said.

The two people arrested were Jonathan Cardona, 27, of the 3000 block of Arthur Court in Waukegan, and William Serwin, 23, of the 1200 block of Victoria Street in North Chicago, according to the news release. Cardona pleaded guilty in 2017 to felony possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 2 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, and Serwin is due to go to trial on Jan. 13 on charges of possession of a weapon without a FOID card and defacing a firearm, officials said.

The officer called for backup to help investigate the scene, and three additional officers arrived and heard a voice yell out an obscenity towards police, police officials said, according to the news release. Four or five shots were fired in the direction of the officers, who took cover and weren't injured, according to the news release. Police saw a person running from the area, and didn't shoot back, officials added.

According to the news release, gang detectives from the Waukegan Criminal Investigations Division responded and recovered substantial evidence including spent shell casings, fired projectiles, and the gun that police believe was used against the police officers.

Authorities said Quezada and another person were arrested and Quezada was charged later that morning, however the second person wasn't charged, and was released by police, the news release reported.

"I would like to thank the men and women from the Waukegan Police Department, who continuously choose to put themselves in harms way to keep residents safe," Waukegan Police Chief Wayne Walles said, according to the news release.

Quezada's case went to trial and he was found guilty on Oct. 18, 2019.