March 23--The village president of Hebron in rural McHenry County was arrested at his home Tuesday and charged with unlawful possession of drugs and weapons after a friend called for help because he was not breathing, police said.
The charges stem from an incident Thursday when a friend of Village President John Jacobson, 68, called 911 to report that Jacobson was not breathing and turning blue, according to a McHenry County Sheriff's news release.
Hebron paramedics took Jacobson to Mercy Harvard Hospital, where he was treated and released.
While speaking with Jacobson's friend Jeanna Rosing, police said they saw drugs and drug paraphernalia in plain view in the home in the 12300 block of Jacob Avenue.
After getting a search warrant, police said, they returned that day to find less than one gram of cocaine, two crack pipes, a shotgun and ammunition.
Jacobson was charged with felony unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, felony unlawful possession of a firearm without firearm owner's identification and unlawful possession of ammunition, police said.
Jacobson, who was released on $30,000 bond, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Rosing, 27, of Lake Geneva, Wis., was charged with three outstanding warrants for retail theft, police said.
Jacobson was elected Hebron's village president in 2013. The small town near the Wisconsin state line is perhaps best known for its 1952 underdog victory in the state basketball championships.
Jacobson was not present at Monday's village board meeting, said Trustee Susan Ritzert. When informed of Jacobson's arrest, she said: "Oh dear. I'm disappointed. I'm unhappy." She declined further comment.
The county sheriff's department said it responded to the call because the Hebron police force was "not on duty at the time."
rmccoppin@tribpub.com
