Crystal Lake Man Hits Lake County Sheriff's K9 After Trespassing

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A Crystal Lake man is facing several charges after resisting arrest and hitting a Lake County Sheriff's office K9 Wednesday at a home in unincorporated McHenry, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's office. Deputies with the Lake County Sheriff's office were called to a home in the 34700 block of North Iroquois Trail in unincorporated McHenry (Lake County) at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday for a criminal trespass complaint. On the way there, deputies learned that 33-year-old Robert B. Hunter, Jr., from the 400 block of Buckingham Drive in Crystal Lake, was breaking into a relative's home while carrying a pipe, according to the news release.

Sheriff’s deputies got to the home and found Hunter inside. Deputies told Hunter to exit the home, and Hunter tried to slam the door on the deputies, who then went inside and brought sheriff's K9 Diesel with them, according to the news release. Hunter threw a glass container at them and then tried barricading himself inside a bathroom, the sheriff's office said.

Sheriff’s deputies forced the bathroom door open and instructed Hunter to come out, warning him K9 Diesel would be released if he refused, the news release said, adding that Hunter continued to refuse, and therefore K9 Diesel was released.

K9 Diesel bit Hunter on the arm and Hunter swung at K9 Diesel, hitting him, causing K9 Diesel to bite Hunter a second time before the man was arrested, according to the news release.

K9 Diesel was uninjured, and a sheriff’s deputy got a small cut on his head head during the incident, the sheriff's office said.

Hunter was taken to Northern Illinois Medical Center (NIMC) in McHenry, where he was treated for the dog bite, the sheriff's office said. After being treated, he was taken to the Lake County Jail where he's expected to have an initial court hearing Thursday.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s office reviewed the facts of the incident and approved the following charges for Hunter:

• Felony assault with a weapon
• Felony aggravated resisting arrest
• Felony criminal trespass to residence
• Misdemeanor striking a police dog
• Misdemeanor violating an order of protection