Deputy Attacked While Helping Family In Need Amid Cold Stretch

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A deputy trying to provide resources to a family in need amid an extreme cold stretch in the Chicago area was attacked and injured by one of the family members over the weekend, police said Sunday.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office deputy responded to a home in the 23800 block of North High Ridge Drive in unincorporated Lake Zurich at about 9 a.m. Sunday to conduct a well-being check after learning the home did not have any working utilities, police said.

A deputy checked on the residents — who were OK but were uncooperative and not happy that police were there.

The deputy retrieved paperwork detailing services and resources for those in need from her squad car and, when returning to the home, was met by a 30-year-old man who threw a piece of wood at the officer, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

The deputy dodged the piece of wood and fell backward into the snow, and the man then jumped on top of her and started punching her in the face, according to police.

Other deputies at the scene came to the woman's aid and used a taser on the man, but he kept on attacking the woman, according to the news release. The deputies tackled him to the ground and took him into custody, and the man is accused spitting on the deputies while he was being arrested.

Both the man and the deputy who was attacked were taken to an area hospital. The deputy was treated and has since been released and the man has been transported to another hospital for further evaluation.

“Police work can often be extremely unpredictable. In this instance, one of our deputy’s was trying to provide resources to a family, and she was violently attacked," Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg said. "I am thankful our deputy will be okay and we will ensure the offender is held criminally accountable for his actions, upon his discharge from the hospital.”

The incident remains under investigation and deputies will review the circumstances with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and seek an arrest warrant, police said Sunday.