Chicago Man Who Cut Warrant-Serving Elgin Cop With Glass Shards Gets Prison Time

ELGIN, IL - A Chicago man will go to prison for injuring an Elgin police detective who was trying serve him with a warrant, and for his involvement in multiple jail fights while in custody.

Jorge Chavez, of the 6100 block of South Rockwell Street in Chicago, agreed Thursday to a 16-year prison sentence in exchange for his guilty plea to two counts of aggravated battery, each a Class 3 felony; as well as one count each of aggravated battery to a police officer causing great bodily harm, a Class 1 felony; and mob action, a Class 4 felony.

Kane County prosecutors presented evidence that on the evening of July 13, 2014, an Elgin police detective spotted Chavez in a retail store parking lot in the 1100 block of South Randall Road. Knowing that he was wanted, the fully uniformed police detective walked over and attempted to serve him with a warrant while he was in the driver's seat of a parked car.

The detective knocked on the driver's side window and ordered Chavez to exit the vehicle. Instead, Chavez started and placed the car in reverse. The detective smashed the driver's side window to try stopping Chavez from fleeing the scene.

Chavez then drove toward the detective. As he did, the detective pulled pepper spray from his belt and sprayed it at Chavez’s face. Shards of broken glass along the window frame simultaneously sliced into the detective’s arm, causing a serious injury.

“Every police officer on every shift puts his or her life on the line while serving and protecting the public," Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon said. "Mr. Chavez seriously and intentionally injured a police officer who has dedicated his life to serving others. He is a threat to the community and belongs in prison."

In addition to this crime, Chavez has at least twice — on June 3, 2015, and Sept. 22, 2016 — been involved in fights while in custody at the Kane County jail.

The 21-year-old's sentence includes a decade for the aggravated battery to a police officer charge, and three years each for the two aggravated battery charges. The terms are to be served consecutively.

Illinois law mandates that Chavez serve at least 85 percent of the 10-year aggravated battery to a police officer sentence. He is eligible for day-for-day credit for the aggravated battery offenses and can apply the 1,110 days served in the Kane County jail — time that accrues to about three years.

The case was prosecuted by Kane County Assistant State’s Attorney Brad Melzer. Circuit Judge James C. Hallock accepted the plea.