Two Jailed After Beating Private Investigator In Antioch: Sheriff

ANTIOCH, IL — A father and son from Antioch Township were arrested this week on suspicion of beating and injuring a private investigator, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Department. Both men face criminal charges.

In a news release, the sheriff's department said deputies were sent to investigate a disturbance reported at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday near Nicklaus Way and Harbor Ridge Drive. At the scene, deputies found a 51-year-old Island Lake man badly beaten.

According to the release, the victim works as a private investigator and was working on a case in the area. While surveilling from his car, the victim was approached by 23-year-old Russel S. Wright and 62-year-old Steven T. Wright, both of 24700 West Nicklaus Way.

The father and son used a car to block the victim's car so he could not leave, authorities said. The suspects then opened the victim's car door and slapped a video camera from his hand.

The father and son then began beating the victim, authorities said.

The victim was able to place a call to 911, but his phone was taken and smashed before he was able to speak with a dispatcher, authorities said. Still, the call went through to 911, and deputies were dispatched.

Both Russel and Steven Wright were arrested at the scene. They now face charges of robbery, a class-two felony; aggravated battery, a class-three felony; and criminal damage to property, a class-four felony.

The father and son appeared in court on Thursday morning. As of writing, both Steven and Russel Wright remain in the Lake County Jail in lieu of $40,000 bail.

The victim of the beating was taken to a nearby hospital with multiple broken bones, authorities said. He remains in stable condition as of writing.

According to the release, the private investigator was not surveilling the Wrights at the time of the incident. There is no known connection between the victims and the suspects, authorities said.