Bystander Bashed With Beer Bottle at Hollywood Casino: Lawsuit

JOLIET, IL — A Joliet man who police say suffered two broken teeth and lacerations to his lip, nose and brow when he was smashed in the face with a beer bottle at Hollywood Casino two years ago has sued his attacker.

Arian Cerda, 26, was merely an innocent bystander when he was bashed in face with a beer bottle in March 2015, police said at the time.

The man who hit Cerda, 30-year-old Anthony Caldwell of Joliet, was jailed on a charge of felony aggravated battery in connection with the early morning attack at the west side casino. Caldwell pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor battery in December. He was sentenced to the two days he had already served in jail before bonding out and to two years of conditional discharge.

Cerda is also suing the casino and Penn National Gaming.

Prior to the attack, Caldwell and his pals were “talking trash” to a group leaving the west side casino, police said, and a fight ensued.

Cerda was not involved in altercation, police said, and just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Anthony Caldwell | image via Will County Sheriff's Department