City Councilman Slapper Not Charged With Slapping City Councilman

JOLIET, IL — A real estate broker clearly caught on video repeatedly slapping a city councilman was only charged with pointing at him and “speaking in a loud tone of voice.”

Mark Koenig, 46, faces a single count of misdemeanor disorderly conduct in connection with his alleged attack on City Councilman Larry Hug in March. Koenig was arrested in April — eight days after the incident — but special prosecutor Dave Neal did not file a criminal complaint until this week.

Hug, 53, said he was unaware of the decision to charge Koenig with misdemeanor disorderly conduct until he was informed by Patch.

Koenig allegedly attacked Hug at the Double J — “Joliet's Favorite Westside Neighborhood Bar!” — on Essington road. Bar surveillance video obtained by Patch showed Hug, Koenig, Will County Board member Annette Parker and Parker’s husband, Brian Parker, hanging around inside the Double J smoking enclosure for about an hour and a half before tempers flared and Koenig went after Hug.

Koenig lunged at the councilman and — after a series of slaps — blood seeped from the Hug’s nose and down onto his shirt. Hug managed to continue smoking and called the cops on Koenig.

Patch also obtained a recording of Hug’s 911 call. On the call, Hug told a dispatcher, “Yes, my name’s Larry Hug. I just got punched in the face by a patron of Double J’s and I want a police officer out here.”

“It was a verbal disagreement and then he punched me ... in the nose,” Hug explained.

The criminal complaint filed by Neal says Koenig merely “advanced quickly toward Larry Hug, pointing his finger at Larry Hug, while speaking to Larry Hug in a loud tone of voice,” and that his alarmed and disturbed Hug.

Neal could not be reached for comment on why the complaint makes no mention of Koenig striking Hug, as he is seen doing on the surveillance video.

Patch requested police reports on the incident and they were provided — but only after city attorney Marty Shanahan thoroughly redacted them, effectively covering up the statements made by Councilman Hug, county board member Parker and her husband, who is employed by the county.

A fourth witness, Carlos Tinoco, has said that prior to the slap, Hug was “talking s--- about everything and everyone,” that Hug called him a “spic,” ripped on the Marines, and also mocked Channahon’s last two mayors.

“He went too far with his comments and he got bitch slapped,” Tinoco said.

Hug has denied saying anything attributed to him by Tinoco.