Lynwood cop in custody in connection with bi-state shootings RETE | A Lynwood police officer is being held on $2.5 million bond in connection with this week's bi-state shootings after police served a warrant for his arrest at his Crete home Friday morning, officials said.
Brian Dorian, 37, was arrested at his home in the 900 block of Arlington Lane in unincorporated Crete Township, the Will County prosecutor's office said.
Dorian is a police officer in Lynwood and formerly served as a Lansing police officer.
He left the Lansing police force due to the requirement that officers live within the village limits, police sources said.
While off duty in 2006, he was involved in a crash that killed Dylan D. Drapeau, 17, of Crete. He was never charged with a crime in connection with the accident, but was cited for speeding.
David Palmer, who served as Lynwood police chief from 1994 to 2008, said Friday morning he was shocked and saddened at the news of Dorian being taken into custody in connection with the shootings.
Dorian served as a police officer under Palmer twice, leaving for a brief stint as a Lansing officer before returning to the Lynwood force.
Palmer said Dorian was on disability for a bad shoulder for the last year and a half. As an officer, Palmer said Dorian was one of the best.
"He was a good, investigative policeman and I never had any complaints about him from the public," Palmer said. "When he came back after the crash, he was a little more subdued, he was a little more reclusive."
No formal charges in this week's shootings have been filed against Dorian at this time, the Will County prosecutor's office said. Calls to current Lynwood Police Chief Russell Pearson were not returned early Friday.
Lansing Police Chief Dennis Murrin said Friday afternoon Dorian worked for his department from 2003 to 2005.
"We never had any disciplinary action against him," Murrin said, declining further comment on Friday's developments.
Lake County Sheriff Rogelio "Roy" Dominguez said any charges coming from Lake County would be attempted murder and robbery charges, but Lake County officials are deferring to Will County in their investigation.
Dominguez said Friday that his detectives along with those from the Will County Sheriff's Department served an arrest warrant at a home in Crete and took a person of interest into custody there.
"Our detectives were out there all night and all morning," Dominguez said.
Dorian's neighbors, Meyer and Raeanne Sparks, said that Dorian had lived in the unassuming ranch-style home across from them for about 10 years. They noticed increased police activity over a 24-hour period until, shortly after midnight Friday, about 30 officers went in.
"They all just bum-rushed the house," Meyer Sparks said.
Pat Barry, spokesman for the Will County Sheriff's Department, cautioned that the investigation is ongoing.
"This is still a very active investigation," Barry said, adding that further details are likely to be released in 3 p.m. press conference in Joliet.
Police officers who worked with Dorian reacted with shock at the news of his arrest Friday. Some said the officer looked confused in his booking mug shot and did not look like the officer who worked alongside them.
Police said a man approached employees from Dyer-based Rich Construction who were working in Washington Township, Ill., near Beecher around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and shot and killed Rolando Alonso, 45, of Hammond and wounded Josh Garza, 19, of Dyer.
About an hour later, police said, the gunman drove up to the property of Keith Dahl, 64, a farmer living south of Lowell near 201st and Cline avenues and shot him after talking to him about honeybees.
Dahl and Garza remained hospitalized for their injuries.
Laura Gonzalez, sister-in-law of Alonso, said Friday morning the family was pleased to hear there had been an arrest in the case.
"At least somebody won't have to go through what we're going through," Gonzalez said, adding that her family was preparing for Alonso's funeral today.
The shootings prompted a bi state manhunt that closed Lowell-area schools and placed others on lock-down.
On Thursday, Lake and Will county sheriff's police announced the formation of a bi state task force to try to capture the suspect and issued an updated police sketch of the suspect in hopes of getting help from the public in finding him.