2 Children At Unlicensed Home Daycare During Drug Probe, Search: Authorities

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has stepped into investigate whether an unlicensed daycare was being run out of a home where a North Chicago man was recently busted for selling meth, DCFS officials said.

Several people were living at the home in the 2100 block of Wright Avenue in North Chicago when authorities launched an investigation into Delwin L. Hodge, 27, in recent weeks. While local police were investigating the drug case, they learned a daycare was being run out of the home, according to Lake County Sheriff's Office officials.

"A relative of Hodge was using the home as a pre-daycare holding area and she would then transport the kids offsite to the physical daycare location later in the morning. There were at least two children in the home she was caring for that morning when the search warrant was conducted," Christopher Covelli, deputy chief with the sheriff's office, told Patch.

DCFS has been notified and is investigating the situation, Deborah Lopez, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, told Patch on Wednesday.

"DCFS is investigating whether this location was operating as an unlicensed daycare," she said.

The daycare license for the location was voluntarily surrendered on August 19, 2024, Lopez said. As of Wednesday, it appears the daycare has been shutdown.

"DCFS is not aware of any children currently being cared for at this location," she said.

Patch.com has reached out to police to see if any additional charges are being considered against the person who was running the daycare.

Hodge Charged In Drug Case

Hodge is accused of selling 200 grams of methamphetamine to undercover detectives with the Lake County Sheriff's Office special investigations group as part of their investigation into accusations he was selling drugs out of the North Chicago home, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for Hodge's home and during a search on July 31, recovered packaging materials used for distributing narcotics. Authorities said it appears any drugs were flushed down the toilet prior to the SWAT team arriving at the scene.

A gun and ammunition were also found inside the home.

"The gun is being sent to the lab to test it for DNA/fingerprints to better determine who it may belong to," Covelli said.

Hodge faces several charges related to the drug case, including: three counts of unlawful possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and endangering the life/welfare of a child.

He was on parole, and the Illinois Department of Corrections issued a parole violation warrant for Hodge.

“It is absolutely unacceptable for anyone to traffic dangerous drugs in our community, especially from a home where children are present," Lake County Circuit Court Sheriff John Idleburg said. "The fact that methamphetamine was being sold and a firearm was left accessible in a daycare environment is beyond reckless. I am proud of the outstanding work our Special Investigations Group and SWAT did to safely apprehend this individual and prevent further harm.”

This is a developing story. Check back for details.