A Zion man allegedly threw an elderly man into a brick wall and then tried robbing him of his belongings while the victim was walking down the street in Zion.
Derrick S. Sanford, 35, of Zion, was charged with attempted robbery of a victim over 60 and two counts of aggravated battery in a public place.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Theis said the incident happened around 5:30 p.m. on July 4.
A 65-year-old man was walking eastbound on 21st Street in Zion while Sanford was walking westbound.
Sanford approached the 65-year-old man and asked him for a cigarette but the victim did not have one, Theis said.
The victim continued walking eastbound when Sanford followed him and they got into a verbal altercation.
Theis said Sanford grabbed the elderly man and threw him into the brick wall of a house.
Sanford tried stealing the victim’s cell phone and cash after throwing him into the side of the home, Theis said.
A surveillance camera captured the incident between the two, who are complete strangers, Theis said. The victim suffered visible injuries.
An arrest warrant was obtained for Sanford on July 9, court records show.
Officers with the Zion Police Department spotted Sanford in the afternoon on July 24 on 21st Street.
They recognized Sanford as being wanted in the robbery, Theis said. Sanford initially cooperated while being taken into custody but began resisting officers as they tried to place him in the squad.
He repeatedly banged his head inside the squad and then spat in an officer’s face at the police department, Theis said.
Officers were later transporting Sanford to the Lake County Jail and he continued banging his head against the window and metal protective bars, causing $500 in damage, Theis said.
Sanford banged his head so hard that he knocked himself unconscious and was transported to the hospital.
Sanford was additionally charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer and criminal damage to government-supported property.
Theis called Sanford a violent and aggressive person who should be detained pending trial.
Court records show Sanford was on pre-trial release at the time of the robbery for a felony domestic battery case in North Chicago.
He had been released from custody on the domestic battery case just one week prior to the robbery occurring.
A public defender for Sanford said his client denies he was involved in the attempted robbery incident.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak granted a petition to detain Sanford pending trial and a petition to revoke his pre-trial release in his domestic battery case.
Sanford is scheduled to appear in court again on August 29.