Wilmington Man Punched Girlfriend, Hid in Vacant Apartment, Blocked Cell Toilet and Masturbated: Cops

A Wilmington man started Thanksgiving morning by punching his girlfriend and hiding out from the cops in an empty apartment, then blocked up his holding cell toilet with clothes, masturbated, tried to escape from a moving squad car and bit an officer, police said.

By early afternoon, 23-year-old Matthew Campus had ended up in the Will County jail. He appeared in court Friday morning but his bond information was not available.

Officers were sent to Campus’ County Road home and spoke to his girlfriend, who reportedly said he punched her several times “during an argument over alcohol.”

Campus’ sister witnessed the attack, police said.

Campus hid out in a vacant apartment in his building, police said, but he was hunted down by two officers.

The cops carted Campus off to the police station but once he got there, he “started threatening officers and their families with physical violence,” police said. “While being placed into a holding room Campus spit on the officers. Once in the holding room Campus removed his clothing and began to masturbate and continued to make threats to the officers. Campus then packed some of his clothing into the toilet of the holding room and attempted to flood the room.”

At this point, the cops loaded Campus into a squad car so they could take him over to the county jail.

“While being transported, Campus attempted to escape by breaking a portion of the prisoner transport partition and trying to climb to the rear storage area and door hatch on Route 53 in Elwood,” police said. “The Elwood Police Department responded to assist.”

At the jail, “Campus continued to threaten officers and deputies,” police said, and he was taken to Presence St. Joseph Medical Center.

“Campus continued to be aggressive towards paramedics and medical staff, using profanities and spitting on them and officers,” police said. “Campus damaged equipment at the medical center and bit a police officer.”

Campus was returned to jail after a brief stay at the hospital.