Glasgow Wants Special Prosecutor in Larry Hug Fight

by Erin Gallagher

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow will call for a special prosecutor if charges are brought in the bar altercation involving Joliet Councilman Larry Hug, Glasgow’s spokesman Chuck Pelkie said. This is in part due to Will County Board Member Annette Parker's presence in the bar at the time, he said.

“We will seek a special prosecutor to review the case to determine if charges are appropriate,” Pelkie said.

Parker, along with her husband, who is a county employee, “may be witnesses,” Pelkie said.

Parker said she was present during an altercation involving Hug outside Double J Sports Bar, 1001 Essington Road in Joliet on March 31. She declined to comment or provide details about what led up to the altercation.

“I would like to talk to people before I say anything,” Parker said Monday and declined to comment on Patch requests since.

Hug said that he was involved in “an incident,” but would also not talk about what prompted him to call the police.

“All I can tell you is there was an incident in which I called the police and filed a report,” Hug said Monday. “I had to call the police and file charges.”

Hug did not return request for comment since then.

“It’s under investigation, so there’s really nothing I can say about it,” Joliet Police Deputy Chief Al Roechner told Patch in an earlier interview. “There was an altercation and we’re reviewing it.”

Joliet Mayor Bob O'Kekirk said the incident is being investigated by the police department, not the liquor commission.

Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton said the police are currently conducting interviews of people who were present. Pelkie said "the city has not formally presented any reports or requests" for Glasgow to review the matter.

On Thursday, Joliet police denied Patch’s request under the Freedom of Information Act request to release the police report and the video surveillance tape Double J owner Jeff Reid said was given to the police.

“That’s standard protocol to deny a report during an investigation,” said Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton.

Patch has appealed the denial to Attorney General Lisa Madigan.