Charges have been filed against a man who authorities say attempted to disarm a Round Lake Beach police officer, causing the officer to be shot during a struggle on Sunday.
Alan D. Quintana-Cruz, 23, of the 100 block of Golfview Drive in Round Lake Beach, was charged with a Class X felony count of aggravated battery and a Class 2 felony count of disarming a peace officer.
The Round Lake Beach Police Department responded around 1 p.m. Sunday to a residence in the 100 block of Golfview Drive in Round Lake Beach for a report of a domestic battery in progress.
Lake County Major Crimes Task Force Spokesman Christopher Covelli said the physical domestic involved two adult relatives, which included Quintana-Cruz, and took place outside the home.
The first Round Lake Beach police officer to arrive immediately intervened in the battery, Covelli said.
“One of the two involved in the physical altercation became aggressive with the officer and engaged in a physical altercation with the officer,” Covelli said in a statement.
During the altercation, Quintana-Cruz allegedly began grabbing the police officer’s firearm, which was secured in its holster, Covelli said. The firearm discharged while still inside the holster as the officer struggled to take the man into custody.
The officer was struck in one of his legs by the bullet. He was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and has been stabilized. Quintana-Cruz was not injured and was taken into custody.
“The Lake County Major Crime Task Force conducted a thorough investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. The investigation consisted of collecting evidence, conducting interviews of the parties involved, and witnesses,” Covelli said on Tuesday.
Quintana-Cruz had an active failure to appear arrest warrant for battery at the time of the incident, which was isolated to the residence, Covelli said.
Quintana-Cruz is scheduled to appear Tuesday afternoon for his first court hearing.
The Round Lake Beach Police Department requested the Lake County Major Crime Task Force to conduct an independent investigation, which is protocol in this type of situation.