Police, SWAT activity in McHenry leads to drug and weapons charges against 2 men

Two McHenry men face felony drug and weapons charges after local police and the county’s SWAT team executed a search warrant at a home there Wednesday morning.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force and SWAT Team, as well as Crystal Lake and McHenry police, were on hand as officers arrested Jimmy Diaz, 59, and Rene R. Barrera Jr., 37, at their residence in the 5000 block of Home Avenue in McHenry, authorities said.

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office alerted residents via its phone app of “heavy police activity in McHenry” in the area of Home and Highview avenues about 10:45 a.m. Wednesday.

The alert said there was no public safety threat but that residents should avoid the area. Officers had cleared the scene before noon.

Later Wednesday, authorities announced that Diaz was charged with felony counts of possession of a firearm as a felon, possession of less than 5 grams of methamphetamine and possession of a less than 15 grams of cocaine, as well as misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting a police officer.

Barrera was charged with felony counts of possession of less than 5 grams of methamphetamine, possession of a less than 15 grams of cocaine and obstructing justice, as well as misdemeanor charges of possession of a firearm without a firearm owner’s identification card, possession of ammunition without a FOID card and resisting a police officer, according to a news release from police.