1 Deputy Hospitalized, 6 Treated At Scene In Bear Spray Attack: Police

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A 41-year-old Libertyville man is accused of spraying bear spray on several Lake County Sheriff's Office deputies on Monday morning.

The deputies were attempting to serve a mental health writ on the man, whose name is currently not being released, prior to the attack, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

The writ — which is a court-ordered directive requiring police to take an individual into custody and take them to a mental health facility — was issued after a petition was filed in regards to concerns over the man's well-being and safety, police said. The man showed signs of paranoia and had punched holes in the walls, wasn't sleeping and had unpredictable outbursts.

At about 7:10 a.m. on Monday deputies responded to the 200 block of Pond Ridge Road in Libertyville to serve the writ. When deputies arrived, the man was inside his bedroom, police said.

Deputies spoke with him through the closed bedroom door, and, at one point, deputies outside the home saw him holding a hatchet. After he put the hatchet down, deputies entered the bedroom, according to the news release.

At that time, he grabbed a large canister of bear spray and sprayed the deputies at close range and without warning, police said. One deputy was sprayed directly in the eyes, police said.

Deputies used a TASER on the man and then took him into custody. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment for his exposure to the bear spray and for his erratic behavior.

The deputy who was sprayed at close range was transported to an area hospital for treatment, and six additional deputies were treated at the scene by paramedics and released, police said.

While at the hospital, the man kicked a nurse, and deputies are seeking criminal charges against the man for his actions, police said.

“Our staff routinely place themselves in harm’s way while trying to help people during their most difficult moments. Mental health writs are inherently unpredictable, and this incident underscores those risks," Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg said. "I’m incredibly proud of the deputies on scene for remaining calm, professional, and focused on safety, and I am hoping for a fast recovery of our hospitalized deputy."