A judge denied pre-trial release to a suspect accused of slashing a family member with a box cutter during a Thanksgiving Day attack in Beach Park.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 10:30 p.m. Thursday to the 10100 block of West California Avenue in Beach Park for a report of a man threatening people with a knife.
911 dispatchers obtained information that Ricardo Carcamo-Ortega, 28, of Waukegan, was armed with a knife and threatening family members, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chief Christopher Covelli.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and saw Carcamo-Ortega outside.
Covelli said the man ran from deputies back into the house and they gave chase. Carcamo-Ortega then ran into the basement.
Sheriff’s deputies heard screaming coming from the basement so they immediately entered and found Carcamo-Ortega sitting on a couch holding a small child, Covelli said.
Sheriff’s deputies were able to quickly rescue the baby and apprehend Carcamo-Ortega.
Deputies learned that Carcamo-Ortega became angry when his family tried to stop him from leaving the home and driving while intoxicated, Covelli said.
During the argument, he pulled a box cutter from his pocket and slashed an adult male family member’s arm, Covelli said. He was not seriously injured.
Covelli said Carcamo-Ortega also used the weapon to damage a vehicle’s tires and he chased other family members with the box cutter.
Prosecutors said the box cutter was found lodged into one of the vehicle’s tires.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, two counts of domestic battery and criminal damage to property.
The state’s attorney’s office filed a petition to detain Carcamo-Ortega in the Lake County Jail pending trial, calling him a real and present threat to the safety of others.
Prosecutors said that Carcamo-Ortega “terrorized his family members” after they tried to stop him from driving drunk with his children.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the petition following a detention hearing held Monday afternoon.
The judge called the incident a crime of violence and said Carcamo-Ortega poses a threat and that no conditions of release could ensure community safety.
Carcamo-Ortega is scheduled to appear in court again on December 17 for a preliminary hearing.