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Police may have video footage of Illinois cop killers

By Doug G. Ware

FOX LAKE, Ill., Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Investigators may finally have a break in the case of an Illinois police officer who was gunned down this week after chasing three suspects.

Authorities said at a news conference Thursday that a resident in Fox Lake has turned over a security videotape taken in the vicinity of the shooting. The private resident had the security video taken at his home, not far from where the body of Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz was found Tuesday morning.

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Police said the footage captured "individuals" in the area who may match the descriptions of the three fugitives -- two white males and a black male.

Gliniewicz told a dispatcher early Tuesday he was checking out three "suspicious" men, while on a routine patrol in the area. Moments later, he radioed that he was chasing the suspects on foot.

Responding officers found the veteran police officer's body in a marshy area a short time later. He had been shot and his firearm was missing. Officials said Thursday that Gliniewicz's gun was later recovered.

The investigation is being assisted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which is reviewing the video.

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"Homeland Security has got advanced equipment," Lake County Major Crime Task Force Officer George Filenko said. "This video in particular is on a particular type of hard drive that they have the technology to retrieve it off of."

Also Thursday, bail was set at $100,000 for a woman who admitted to reporting a false sighting of the three fugitives. Kristin Kiefer told police she saw the men, which led authorities to divert their investigation to focus on the tip.

Kiefer, 30, told police two of the suspects tried to commandeer her vehicle. Officials focused their search on the area she was in for five hours, investigators said.

"She said she was doing this for attention," Lake County Det. Christopher Covelli said.

Gliniewicz, 52, was a 30-year police veteran and father of four children.

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