A father and son were arrested after police say they severely beat a private investigator and robbed him in Antioch Wednesday evening.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday to the area of Nicklaus Way and Harbor Ridge Drive in Antioch Township for a disturbance in progress.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and found a victim, a 51-year-old Island Lake man, who had been severely beaten, according to Lake County Sheriff Spokesman Lt. Christopher Covelli.
The victim was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with multiple broken bones and is currently in stable condition.
A preliminary investigation shows the victim is a private investigator and was in the area for a case he was investigating, Covelli said.
The victim was parked in his vehicle conducting surveillance and also called the sheriff’s office to advise he would be in the area.
While conducting his investigation, the victim was approached by Russell S. Wright, 23, and Steven T. Wright, 62, both of the 24700 block of West Nicklaus Way.
The two used a vehicle to block in the victim’s car so he could not leave the scene. Covelli said the Wright’s then forced the victim’s car door open and slapped a video camera from his hands.
Russell Wright entered the car and began beating the victim. Steven Wright also began beating the victim.
The victim was able to dial 911 but one of the men took the victim’s cellphone and smashed it on the ground, Covelli said.
The 911 call still went through and 911 dispatchers were able to figure out there was a problem and dispatched sheriff’s deputies.
“There is no known connection between the Wright’s and the victim, nor was the victim conducting surveillance on the Wright’s,” Covelli said.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested the two suspects at the scene and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved felony charges of robbery, aggravated battery and criminal damage to property.
The Wright’s remain held in the Lake County jail on a $40,000 bond. They are scheduled to appear in court next week.