Police: California man threatened to ‘light up’ courthouse and PD

(WAUKEGAN) A California man is being held on a $2 million bond after he allegedly threatened to kill people and “light up” a north suburban police department and courthouse.

Daniel B. Pederson / photo from the Lake County Sheriff’s office

About 11:45 a.m. on Sept. 12, someone called the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services, threatening to kill people and “light up” the Gurnee Police Department and Lake County courthouse in Waukegan, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s office.

A search of the courthouse for a bomb turned up nothing, but security personnel numbers were increased, a statement from police said.

The sheriff’s office investigated the threat and identified the caller as Daniel B. Pederson, 33, of Calbasas, Calif., according to the statement.

He was believed to have a suspended driver’s license for failing to pay child support, and Gurnee police had arrested him for driving on a suspended license.

Pederson also had two outstanding warrants, and on Sept. 18, another was issued for making a terrorist threat.

On Sept. 25, he was arrested in California, according to the statement. He was extradited to Illinois on Monday, and bond was set at $2 million.

He is next scheduled to appear in court Nov. 18.