Dirty Looks At Darien Bar, Then Brawl: Cops

DARIEN, IL – A 22-year-old Morris man and another man with whom he'd had prior disagreements had not seen each other for six months, but were in the same group at a Darien bar earlier this month. It did not end well, police said.

Patch obtained the police report through a public records request.

Police were called to Q Bar, 8109 Cass Ave., after midnight on July 12.

According to the report, the two men gave each other dirty looks from across the bar throughout the night, but kept their distance. Their most recent interaction was six months ago, when the other man, 25, accused the Morris man of stealing marijuana.

After midnight, surveillance video showed the Morris man following the 25-year-old into the restroom, police said. Inside the restroom, as the 25-year-old reached the door to leave, the Morris man struck him in the face, police said. Then, when the 25-year-old emerged from the restroom, the Morris man dragged him to the ground by grabbing his waist from behind and wrapping his arm around the 25-year-old's throat, police said.

The 25-year-old's girlfriend yelled at the Morris man to stop and then kicked the suspect to get him to let go, police said. A bystander separated the two.

The suspect told officers that he stayed in a stall for 10 minutes before leaving because he believed the other man was waiting for him in the restroom, police said. The Morris man accused the other man of telling him to meet outside and that he would beat him up.

The Morris man said the other man then blocked him from leaving, so that is when he decided to attack the 25-year-old, police said.

Surveillance footage showed the Morris man with his arm around the neck of the other man outside the restroom, police said.

The Morris man was charged with battery.