Man charged with burglarizing Beach Park gas station

A man has been charged with burglarizing a gas station early Saturday in north suburban Beach Park.

Michael J. Peterson, 26, is charged with three counts of burglary, theft over $300, and criminal damage to property, all felonies, according to a statement from the Lake County sheriff’s office. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of resisting/obstructing a peace officer.

Deputies responded to the Marathon station in the 37700 block of North Sheridan Road in Beach Park about 3:30 a.m., and set up a perimeter to begin searching the area, according to police.

They found 19 cartons of cigarettes—valued over $1,300—on the ground, which had been stolen from the station, police said.

The Waukegan police canine unit responded and tracked Peterson, who ran from deputies, police said. He was taken into custody and admitted to the burglary.

A second person of interest has been identified and the investigation is ongoing.

Peterson, of the 1000 block of Murfield Avenue in Waukegan, was ordered held on a $150,000 bond, police said. He is next scheduled to appear in court Jan. 27.