A corrections officer is recovering after having to be transported to the hospital with a head injury following a struggle with a combative inmate at the Lake County Jail in Waukegan.
Riley McGovern, 29, of Round Lake Beach, was transported to the Lake County Jail on January 27 after being charged with domestic battery.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli said that McGovern violated the rules while being held in the jail when he covered a light in his cell, which made it difficult for corrections officers to check on him during their rounds.
McGovern had been in the maximum security cellblock due to previously violating rules.
Corrections officers instructed McGovern to remove the cover he placed over the light so they could see him.
McGovern responded by yelling expletives at them, Covelli said.
Correctional Officers entered McGovern’s cell to remove the cover he placed on the light.
McGovern was placed in handcuffs but resisted corrections officers by pulling away from them, Covelli said.
Covelli said that McGovern lunged toward one of the two corrections officers with all of his body weight and the officer was forced to push McGovern away.
McGovern then shifted all his weight to the second corrections officer that was holding his arms.
McGovern fell into the second corrections officer, causing both McGovern and the corrections officer to fall, Covelli said.
The corrections officer struck his head on the bunk inside of the jail cell, causing a large head wound.
Additional corrections officers arrived to subdue McGovern.
The corrections officer was transported to an area hospital where he received several staples in his head.
He is currently receiving ongoing treatments but is at home recovering, Covelli said.
In addition to the charges McGovern was already facing, he was also charged with resisting a peace officer causing injury, a Class 4 felony. Additional charges are possible.
McGovern remains held in the jail on a $200,000 bond.
“Our correctional officers have an incredibly difficult job. They work tirelessly to keep our inmates safe and provide a positive environment for those incarcerated,” Sheriff John Idleburg said.
“This is another example of how our correctional staff put their wellbeing on the line every day, to ensure our jail is safe for all. We are all hoping for a speedy recovery of our correctional officer who was injured and we look forward to welcoming him back,” Idleburg said.