
Prosecutors say two suspects beat a victim and strangled him until he lost consciousness during a robbery where they allegedly stole over $5,000 and jewelry at a park in Lake Zurich.
The Lake Zurich Police Department responded on October 23, 2023, to Paulus Park, 200 South Rand Road, for a report of a robbery.
Officers responding to the 911 call found a victim on the ground next to a car.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Cannon said the victim had bruises and swelling to his face. He was also bleeding from his mouth.
There was jewelry on the ground and on the driver’s seat of the car.
The victim said two suspects attacked him and stole $5,500 in cash along with a pair of sunglasses, jewelry and an Apple iPhone.
Officers learned that the victim had taken a photo of a large amount of cash and several cell phones and posted it online five days prior, Cannon said.
Cannon said that Aidan L. Broadfield, 19, of Lake Zurich, texted the victim and asked how he was making money and that he “wanted in.”
Broadfield and Sam A. Gruszecki, 20, of Lake Zurich, went to visit the victim where he worked.
The three went to play basketball at Paulus Park and then went to McDonald’s in the victim’s car, Cannon said.
The victim paid for all three of them using a large roll of cash before returning to the park.
Cannon said Broadfield got out of the car, opened the driver’s side door and pulled out the victim from the car.
Broadfield began punching the victim and Gruszecki put the victim in a chokehold from behind, Cannon said.
The victim lost consciousness briefly. He fell to the ground as Broadfield and Gruszecki were hitting and strangling the victim, Cannon said.
Cannon said Gruszecki went to the passenger side of the car and stole items from the glovebox.
Gruszecki and Broadfield then continued striking the victim, Cannon said.
The two got into Broadfield’s car and the victim attempted to get his belongings back.
A physical struggle ensued with the suspects striking the victim and throwing him onto the ground before fleeing the scene, Cannon said.
The victim was transported to Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington.
He suffered bruising, swelling and abrasions to his face and body and knots on the back of his head.
Broadfield was located by officers on the same day of the incident and denied that he or Gruszecki stole any property from the victim.
Cannon said Broadfield told officers that the victim was driving recklessly on the way back from getting food and a verbal argument ensued.
Broadfield also said that once they arrived at the park, the victim tried hitting one of them, leading to Broadfield slamming him to the ground.
The father of Broadfield later told detectives that his son told him that Gruszecki stole the money, Cannon said.
Broadfield told detectives that Gruszecki made comments prior to the incident that he would steal money from the victim if he saw him with any.
Broadfield was charged in December 2023 with robbery, a Class 2 felony, and battery, a Class A misdemeanor.
He was arrested in January and ordered held in the Lake County Jail pending trial.
Broadfield pleaded guilty to one count of battery in March and was released from custody with 81 days of time served and ordered to pay $3,600 in restitution.
Gruszecki was also charged in December 2023 with robbery, aggravated battery by strangulation and battery and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He was arrested earlier this month, nearly a year later. Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim ordered Gruszecki held in custody pending trial after the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain him.
Gruszecki also has a second case pending for disorderly conduct for threatening to shoot a person’s house in Lake Zurich, Cannon said.
Nerheim said that while Gruszecki lacks a criminal history, the crime that occurred was a crime of violence that resulted in injury and that no conditions of release could ensure the community’s safety.
Gruszecki is scheduled to appear in court again on January 14 for a preliminary hearing.