Prosecutors say a woman armed herself with a metal pipe and repeatedly struck a front desk clerk with it after becoming irate about being kicked out of a motel in Waukegan.
Latoya Hilliard-Brooks, 51, of Waukegan, was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Nicholas Shepherd said a night front desk clerk was working at Robert’s Roost Motel, 1705 North Sheridan Road in Waukegan, around 7 a.m. on December 26.
The employee went to remove Hilliard-Brooks and her belongings from one of the rooms for non-payment.
Shepherd said Hilliard-Brooks became irate and grabbed a metal pipe that was next to a wall in the lobby, which was under renovation.
Hilliard-Brooks struck the victim multiple times on his body with the metal pipe, Shepherd said.
Officers saw bruising and cuts on the victim’s arms and stomach.
Shepherd said Hilliard-Brooks fled the scene before police arrived.
Officers were called later that same day around 8 p.m. to The Taproom in downtown Waukegan after Hilliard-Brooks was having a mental health episode in a bathroom.
Police removed her and trespassed her from the establishment, Shepherd said. Shepherd said Hilliard-Brooks then went back to Robert’s Roost Motel and sat in a stairwell.
The same front desk clerk was working and became alarmed after recognizing Hilliard-Brooks as his assailant and called 911.
Officers arrived and asked Hilliard-Brooks if she had been involved in a confrontation with the clerk, which she confirmed, Shepherd said.
Shepherd said the woman became irate and aggressive when officers told her she was under arrest.
Police know Hilliard-Brooks has mental health issues and has previously refused services offered to her, Shepherd said.
Hilliard-Brooks was on pre-trial release at the time for another battery case that she had been released from custody just two days prior.
She also has another active case for fighting with police officers who were responding to an incident at a hotel in Zion in December, Shepherd said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Hilliard-Brooks pending trial in the new case and a petition to revoke her pre-trial release in a prior case.
During a detention hearing, Hilliard-Brooks repeatedly interrupted while in the courtroom, which led to Lake County Judge James Newman giving her multiple warnings to stop interjecting.
A public defender raised a bonafide doubt about Hilliard-Brooks’ fitness to stand trial.
The judge granted the state’s petitions and remanded Hilliard-Brooks to the Lake County Jail pending trial.
A status of fitness hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.