Lake County Gazette

A Beach Park man was arrested on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges after he allegedly held the mother of his child hostage and killed her dog. Sheriff's deputies responded to an address in the 13000 block of West 28th Place, Wadsworth, at approximately 8:45 a.m. on June 16.

"Our 911 emergency telecommunicators were able to obtain very important information and relay the information at lightning speed, allowing our deputies to locate and rescue the kidnapping victims. If it were not for the high level of skill and collaboration between our 911 center and responding deputies, this violent man may have done more serious harm to the victims," Sheriff John Idleburg said, according to a Lake County Sheriff's Office press release.

According to a Lake County Sheriff's Office press release, Lake County Sheriff's 911 Emergency telecommunicators gained information that the victim was allegedly being held hostage by Adrian Rivera, 40, of the 10400 block of West Crissy Ave., Beach Park. They learned that the suspect forced the victim to drive to the Wadsworth address to pick up their young child who was being kept at that address for safety. The suspect was armed with a knife and forced the victim back into the vehicle, this time with the child. He then forced her to drive away.

The Sheriff's 911 telecommunicators obtained the vehicle description, license plate, and its direction were relayed to responding deputies. They located the vehicle near Lewis Avenue and Wadsworth Road, Beach Park, where they conducted a high-risk traffic stop. The woman and child were rescued.

Investigation revealed that before the woman was taken hostage, she was battered at her Beach Park residence where they lived. Rivera looked for his firearm but failed to find it. He armed himself with a knife and forced her to drive to where their child was staying. The suspect threatened to kill the victim and her family if she did not comply. Upon arrival at the Wadsworth location, she told her family she was being held against her will. The family called 911. Deputies also learned that the victim's dog was recently bludgeoned to death and placed in a cooler. The dead dog, bludgeon, and two firearms belonging to Rivera were found.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved several charges against Rivera: Aggravated Domestic Battery involving Strangulation (Class 2 Felony), Two Counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon (Class 2 Felonies), Failure of a Sexual Offender to Report a Change of Address (Class 3 Felony), Unlawful Restraint (Class 4 Felony), Aggravated Animal Cruelty (Class 4 Felony), Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Class A Misdemeanor), Two Counts of Domestic Battery (Class A Misdemeanors), Child Endangerment (Class A Misdemeanor). Additional charges are possible.