Man charged with attempted armed robbery in Gages Lake

A man has been charged with pointing a gun at another man during an attempted robbery Wednesday afternoon in north suburban Gages Lake.

Police were called about the robbery in the 18600 block of West Old Gages Lake Road at 2:22 p.m. Wednesday, according to a statement from the Lake County sheriff’s office. The victim, a 54-year-old man, told investigators he had lost his cell phone earlier that day, believing that he placed it on his vehicle as he was preparing to leave for work and it fell off somewhere in his neighborhood as he was driving.

He eventually called his phone and a man, later identified as 29-year-old Jeffery R. Fillebrown, answered and said he would return the phone for $100, the sheriff’s office said. The victim agreed to meet him at the Wildwood Presbyterian Church, 18630 W. Old Gages Lake Road.

When the victim took the phone out of Fillebrown’s hand during the meeting, Fillebrown pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the man’s head, the sheriff’s office said. The victim gave the phone back to Fillebrown and ran away.

Detectives identified Fillebrown as the suspect and arrested him the next day, according the sheriff’s office. He was charged with a felony count of attempted armed robbery and misdemeanor counts of aggravated assault and violation of the firearm concealed carry act.

Investigators recovered the firearm used in the robbery attempt, police said. Detectives are working with Illinois State Police in an effort to revoke Fillebrown’s FOID card and concealed carry license.

Fillebrown, of the 17900 block of West Greentree Road in Gages Lake, is being held at the Lake County Jail on a $20,000 bond, the sheriff’s office said. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 11.