Officers arrested a machete-wielding man after he allegedly battered two victims and attempted to strike them with the machete at a hotel in Crystal Lake, police said.
The Crystal Lake Police Department responded around 11:55 a.m. Monday to the Super 8 motel, 577 Crystal Lake Point Drive in Crystal Lake, for a report of an altercation and armed person.
Crystal Lake Deputy Police Chief Richard Neumann said several subjects were reported to be arguing and one of them was swinging a machete.
Officers arrived and located all of the subjects involved.
Neumann said an investigation determined that Raymond Gaines, 20, of Crystal Lake, struck two victims with the blunt handle of the machete.
Gaines also attempted to strike both of the victims with the machete blade, Neumann said.
Gaines, who was staying at the motel, was taken into custody without incident. Neither of the two victims required medical treatment.
Gaines was charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, two counts of aggravated battery in a public place and two counts of aggravated assault.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Gaines in the McHenry County Jail pending trial.
Prosecutors called him a real and present threat to the safety of the community and also said he is a willful flight risk.
McHenry County Judge Michael Chmiel granted the petition during an initial court hearing Tuesday.
The judge agreed that Gaines is a willful flight risk due to his transient living conditions at the Super 8 motel and the lack of ties to the community as well as two prior criminal cases for battery and resisting a peace officer.
The judge said Gaines failed to use other options to defuse the situation and resorted to using a machete in response to the fight.
A status of preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday.