Three men have been charged after police say they beat and seriously injured a father during a dispute over the father’s daughter using a restroom at a Woodstock restaurant.
Timothy M. Freitag, 47, of Gilberts, Anthony E. Chrisos, 54, of Woodstock, and Steven J. Wennerstrom, 54, of Lakemoor, were all charged with felony aggravated battery. Chrisos and Wennerstrom were also charged with mob action.
The Woodstock Police Department responded around 6:54 p.m. Saturday to Niko’s Red Mill Tavern, 1040 Lake Avenue, for a report of a battery.
Officers learned that three men battered a male victim who was having dinner at the restaurant with his family.
Woodstock Police Chief John Lieb said video surveillance was reviewed and an investigation was launched.
The investigation showed Freitag blocked access to the women’s restroom while two women who he was with were inside the multi-person restroom.
The male victim’s 13-year-old daughter tried to enter the bathroom but Freitag blocked her from entering, Lieb said. The girl then went back to the table and told her father what happened.
The father went to the restroom area and spoke to Freitag, asking him why his daughter was unable to use the women’s restroom.
The 13-year-old girl and her father went back to their table. Once Freitag and the two women he was with left the bathroom, the father and his daughter went towards the restrooms again.
Lieb said that Freitag and the father spoke to each other again before the father went inside the men’s bathroom and his daughter went into the women’s bathroom.
Freitag stepped outside briefly and immediately returned with two other male subjects, identified as Chrisos and Wennerstrom.
Freitag, Chrisos and Wennerstrom entered the men’s restroom, where the father was still inside, and severely battered him, Lieb said.
The male victim was transported to an area hospital by the Woodstock Fire Rescue District with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
“I am extremely disheartened by the actions of the individuals who allegedly committed these crimes while in the City of Woodstock. The accused individuals do not reflect the type of community that Woodstock is; there is absolutely no excuse or explanation for their actions,” Lieb said.
“Even though all three suspects have been arrested, the Woodstock Police Department will continue to endeavor to ensure the victim in this case receives justice through the judicial process against the accused. Additionally, the Officers of the Woodstock Police Department will fervently continue to endeavor that Woodstock is a safe community to reside and visit,” Lieb added.