A man tried fleeing arrest at the Lake County Courthouse and injured a police officer, officials said. He was taken into custody but later tried escaping from the Lake County Jail.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said that Anthony J. Cauley, 29, of Oak Park, was attending a court hearing in the Lake County Criminal Courthouse Tower, 301 Washington Street in Waukegan, around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday.
Cauley was out on bond but had a case management hearing regarding a previous arrest for aggravated battery to a peace officer.
During the court hearing, a Lake County judge ordered Cauley to be remanded back into custody for violating the conditions of his bond.
Cauley immediately fled out of the courtroom and a Lake County sheriff court security officer pursued Cauley on foot, as did a Highland Park Police Department sergeant, who happened to be in the same courtroom on a different matter.
Covelli said that Cauley fled into the foyer outside of the courtroom and turned a corner in the hallway where he ran directly at the police sergeant, elbowing the sergeant in the head.
Several court security officers and the Highland Park sergeant were able to take Cauley into custody.
Cauley was transported to an area hospital due to a medical issue he developed after being taken into custody, Covelli said.
The Highland Park police sergeant was also transported to an area hospital due to the head injury he sustained when he was struck by Cauley.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the charges of escape, a Class 2 felony, and aggravated battery to a peace officer, a Class 2 felony.
The Judge who initially remanded Cauley into custody ordered the man held without bond.
Cauley was treated and released from the hospital and transported to the Lake County Jail by members of the Corrections Response Team.
Shortly after arriving at the jail, Cauley attempted to escape from custody again by attempting to flee out of an open door where correctional officers were moving a different inmate through.
Covelli said the open door did not lead to the outside of the jail and corrections officers were able to subdue Cauley before he reached another secure door.
Additional charges regarding his second escape attempt are pending.
“This is an example of the unpredictability nature of what our staff encounter on a daily basis. Battering a police officer is unacceptable, plain and simple. I am thankful the Highland Park Sergeant was not seriously injured and thankful my staff was not injured,” Sheriff John Idleburg said.