
Police arrested a 22-year-old man who allegedly restrained a woman, covered her mouth and fired a shot after becoming upset that she was breaking up with him in Wonder Lake.
Austin M. Lukac, 22, of Belvidere, was charged with aggravated unlawful restraint, aggravated assault by discharge of a firearm, reckless discharge of a firearm, unlawful restraint, domestic battery and assault.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 11:37 p.m. Tuesday to the 5500 block of West Wonder Lake Road in Wonder Lake for a report of an unwanted person and domestic battery.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived and learned the suspect, Lukac, had already fled the scene in his vehicle.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges Lukac brandished a black Sig Sauer handgun while restraining and preventing a woman from leaving the residence.
Lukac physically used his hands to restrain the woman to the bed and prevent her from seeking help, the complaint said.
The complaint said Lukac battered her by holding her down and covering her mouth.
Lukac discharged a round from the gun after the victim did not want to be in a relationship with Lukac, the complaint said. The woman sought shelter in a closet.
Court documents said Lukac admitted to some of the allegations and that he also pointed the gun at his own head during the incident.
Police later located and arrested Lukac in Winnebago County and transported him to the McHenry County Jail early Wednesday morning.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Lukac pending trial, calling him a real and present danger to the safety of others.
McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb denied the petition during a court hearing Wednesday and released Lukac from custody.
She ordered him to not leave the state without permission, be placed on pre-trial services monitoring with a GPS monitor and have no contact with the victim. He was also ordered not to go within five miles of the victim’s home.
Lukac is scheduled to appear in court again on January 29 for a status of preliminary hearing.