A second suspect has been arrested after prosecutors say a group beat a man for several minutes, leaving him “lifeless” in the roadway and ultimately on life support, in Waukegan.
The incident happened around 3 a.m. on July 11 near the PADS Lake County, 1800 Grand Avenue in Waukegan.
The Waukegan Fire Department and Waukegan Police Department responded to the location for a call of an injured person.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Colleen McConnell said a passing motorist found the victim in the roadway and called 911.
The victim’s head was split open and both of his eyes were swollen.
Paramedics transported the victim to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan. He was later transferred to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.
Hospital staff initially did not believe the critically injured man would survive, McConnell said. The man was in a coma and on life support.
Investigators learned there was an altercation between the victim and five to six offenders, McConnell said.
Video surveillance recovered showed the victim running eastbound on Grand Avenue in front of PADS before running northbound on Indiana Street.
The victim was being chased by the group before they were able to catch up to him, McConnell said.
At least three people from the group, which was led by Jarmar S. Maise, 38, of Waukegan, were involved in attacking the victim, who tripped and fell while being chased, according to Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Emily Shanley-Roberts.
Maise along with a second suspect, Andrew C. Armstrong, 60, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, were described as being the two primary aggressors.
Armstrong and Maise began punching and kicking the victim, McConnell said.
Shanley-Roberts said Maise repeatedly punched the victim in the head.
A third man could be seen kicking the victim a few times and a fourth man could be seen bending over the victim.
McConnell said the victim tried to get up but was pulled down by Armstrong, who punched the victim three more times despite the victim no longer struggling or moving.
Shanley-Roberts said people could be seen going through the victim’s clothing and pockets.
The victim rolled into the street from the sidewalk while Armstrong continued to punch and kick the victim in the head while the victim was not moving, McConnell said.
Shanley-Roberts said Maise stomped on the victim’s head repeatedly and punched him in the head.
Armstrong also continued to punch and kick the victim, McConnell said. Maise kicked the victim in the head “a few more times” as well, Shanley-Roberts said.
McConnell said the suspects attacked the victim for approximately three minutes, even after the victim was lifeless and not moving.
Shanley-Roberts said Maise walked away but returned only to hit the victim again in the head as he remained lifeless. Maise allegedly stomped on the victim’s head a final time before leaving the scene.
Investigators identified Armstrong’s clothing description and later located him. He had blood on his clothing.
Armstrong was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for failing to appear in court in a pending case.
The fourth man involved in the group was also located and interviewed, McConnell said.
He told investigators he was trying to pull one of the suspects off of the victim, who he described as “lifeless,” and did not try to hurt him. The man identified Armstrong as one of the primary aggressors in a photo lineup.
Armstrong denied he participated in the incident and became belligerent with officers when they tried to collect his clothing for evidence, McConnell said.
Armstrong was charged on the same day of the incident with attempted murder and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm. He has an extensive criminal background dating back to 1990.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted prosecutors’ petition to detain Armstrong pending trial.
Additional surveillance video collected resulted in investigators disseminating images within the department and that led officers to later locate Maise in Waukegan.
He was wearing the same jewelry as seen in the video during the attack and high-quality images taken of the suspect from the surveillance video matched Maise, Shanley-Roberts said.
Maise told investigators that the victim struck him first and someone Maise was with hit the victim back, which led to Maise chasing the victim and the group to begin beating him.
Maise also told investigators he “got his licks in.” Shanley-Roberts said that as of Thursday the victim was intubated in the hospital.
Maise was charged on Wednesday with attempted murder and aggravated battery causing great bodily harm.
A detention hearing began on Friday for Maise but the hearing was continued to Monday afternoon.
Armstrong and Maise both remain held in the Lake County Jail.