Off-Duty Cop Who Brought Gun To Work At Library Faces Discipline

EVANSTON, IL — The off-duty police officer who drew a gun while under attack by a patron at the Evanston Public Library has been disciplined for a violation of city policy.

Abah Antonio, who has worked as a security guard at the library since 2017, violated the City of Evanston Weapons Free Workplace policy at the main library on Jan. 9 during a confrontation with a homeless man, records show.

Antonio was suspended for a single, four-hour shift at the library. Under the city's contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, which covers library workers, he was permitted to take the suspension in the form of a floating holiday, which he did, according to a disciplinary action form obtained by Patch in a public records request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA.

The 31-year-old library patron, Milton Altamirano-Sanchez, was charged with aggravated battery to a police officer after he beat and kicked Antonio, who had identified himself as an off-duty cop when he encountered Altamirano-Sanchez lying on the ground on the third floor of the library at 1703 Orrington Ave.

Altamirano-Sanchez told arresting officers that it appeared Antonio was "asking for problems" and admitted that he "knocked his ass out" before throwing three wooden chairs at Antonio after he drew his pistol, according to police reports. Frightened patrons and staff members fled, with one employee telling dispatchers she locked herself in a back room.

"We have an individual with a gun who is pointing the gun and threatening to shoot it," she said.

Records show Antonio started working as an officer in the Evanston Police Department in January 2018. For the first two years on the job, officers work on a probationary basis.

Swearing in of new Evanston Police Officer Abah Antonio. The police academy starts on Monday. Congrats! @CityofEvanston pic.twitter.com/3sxNNUDfRI
— Evanston, IL Police (@EvanstonPD) January 5, 2018

During his probationary period, Antonio was disciplined four times in eight months for policy violations, according to personnel records obtained by Patch.

In the first instance, Antonio received a one-day suspension after he failed to properly investigate a potential DUI during a traffic stop on Feb. 2, 2019. He also failed to properly use his body-worn camera and offered the detainee bond advice in violation of department rules.

He was issued another written reprimand over a July 18, 2019, off-duty incident at the Niles Walmart, 8500 W. Golf Road.

According to a disciplinary action form, Antonio got involved in a "disturbance" between customers and staff members, at one point placing his hand on one of the customers. That customer contacted Niles police, who conducted an investigation, but Antonio failed to notify his Evanston police supervisors about the incident.

Antonio then received a two-day suspension and a three-month extension of his probationary period for policy violations during a DUI investigation on Sept. 13, 2019.

According to the disciplinary action form for this incident, he "failed to properly communicate with Dispatch, failed to tactically approach the stopped vehicle, failed to activate your body-worn camera, failed to properly document what occurred into a police record, and failed to review body-camera footage prior to completing your report."

Antonio also received a written reprimand after he "investigated a trespassing complaint in which he arrested the suspect without having a witness properly identify the subject by conducting a suspect show-up" on Sept. 30, 2019.

On Jan. 4, 2020, Antonio's probationary period was formally extended 90 days. And on Jan. 24, 2020, he submitted his resignation, effective immediately. Police said he was not under investigation at the time he stepped down.

After departing the Evanston Police Department, Antonio was sworn in to become a police officer in Niles in July 2021, according to village board meeting minutes.

Antonio did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment.

Heather Norberg, interim director of the Evanston Public Library, said in a statement at a board meeting last month that the incident was "very serious and distressing for all," the Evanston RoundTable reported. Norberg said the exceptions to the city's firearms policy for police and animal control officers on official business do not apply to library security staff, who "will not be armed" in the future.

Earlier: Library Staffer Draws Gun During Beating By Homeless Man, Police Say