Thanksgiving Turns Bloody With Drunken Box Cutter Attack In Beach Park: Sheriff's Office

BEACH PARK, IL — A Waukegan man is facing felony charges after he slashed one family member with a box cutter and threatened others during an argument at a family Thanksgiving gathering in Beach Park.

Ricardo Carcamo-Ortega, 28, of the 1100 block of North Avenue in Waukegan, was arrested after Lake County sheriff's deputies were called to a report of a knife-wielding man threatening people in the 10100 block of West California Avenue.

Deputies showed up around 10:30 p.m. and spotted Carcamo-Ortega outside, but he fled back into the house and ran into the basement.

"Sheriff’s deputies then heard screaming coming from the basement," Deputy Chief Chris Covelli said in a statement, "so they immediately entered the basement and found Carcamo-Ortega sitting on a couch, holding a small child."

Deputies were able to free the child without further injuries.

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The argument started when Carcamo-Ortega’s family tried to stop the intoxicated Waukegan man from leaving the house and driving drunk, investigators determined.

He then allegedly pulled a box cutter from his pocket, slashed one family member’s arm, slashed car tires and chased other relatives with the weapon, according to Covelli.

The family member who he allegedly cut was not seriously injured and is expected to fully recover, police said.

Prosecutors from the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, two counts of domestic battery and criminal damage to property.

Carcamo-Ortega was held at the Lake County Jail pending an initial court hearing on Friday.