Prosecutors say a man armed with a knife put a random person in a chokehold, got into another random person’s car and then attempted to slice a police detective’s throat in Waukegan.
Brandyn P. White, 25, of Waukegan, was charged with attempted aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, aggravated assault of a peace officer, three counts of criminal damage to property, resisting a peace officer, criminal trespass to vehicle, obstructing a peace officer and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Dino Katris said the Waukegan Police Department responded on July 18 to a call of a man with a knife trying to steal a car.
It was learned that White sliced his sister’s car with scissors and the man was at the Lewis Fresh Market while still armed with a weapon, Katris said.
Officers arrived and found White holding both scissors and a box cutter. He ran away and dropped one of the weapons.
Katris said a police detective tried to grab White and the man spun around, at which point he swung a knife and thrust it toward the officer’s throat trying to cut him.
The detective jumped back when he realized White was armed with the knife.
A police canine responded and tracked down White, Katris said. The canine bit the man and subdued him.
White was transported to the hospital. Officers spoke to witnesses and learned the ordeal began when White was throwing items at an apartment window.
He then went to an intersection and pushed an innocent bystander to the ground, putting them in a rear naked chokehold, Katris said.
A motorist stopped to try and aid the victim when White jumped into the motorist’s car.
White appeared to not know what he was doing once he got into the car, Katris said. White did not say anything to the vehicle owner.
The owner was able to get White out of the vehicle and White ran to Lewis Fresh Market.
White told officers he wanted to kill people and admitted to his actions, Katris said. He also told officers he was not on his medication during the incident.
“This defendant is dangerous. He admitted he wanted to kill people. He told us that he is not medicated and is mentally unstable,” Katris said while arguing for White to be detained.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted a petition to detain White pending trial after agreeing he is a danger to the community.
The judge said it was lucky that no one was seriously injured during the situation.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled in the case for August 14.