Prosecutors say a suspect robbed a woman of her money and purse and then punched an elderly man who tried coming to her aid inside a bank in Waukegan.
The Waukegan Police Department responded around 12:40 p.m. on November 4 to the Consumers Credit Union, 2750 Washington Street in Waukegan, for a report of a robbery.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Hillary Price Cohen said a male subject, later identified as Peter M. Tamale, 35, of Chicago Heights, entered the bank and approached the counter.
Tamale went behind the counter, pushed the bank teller out of the way while trying to use her computer, Price Cohen said.
She tried locking the computer while Tamale was yelling that the bank had given another customer his money.
That female customer, whom Tamale did not know, was in the bank to make a cash deposit, Price Cohen said.
She had $1,500 in cash in her hand and was also holding her purse. Tamale approached her and stole her money and purse, Price Cohen said.
The bank teller and the victim began struggling with Tamale to get the items back.
Another customer in the bank, who is almost 80 years old, stepped in to help the two women try to get the purse back.
Price Cohen said Tamale punched the elderly man on the left side of the face. The victim was wearing glasses and suffered a cut on his eye.
Police arrived at the scene and found Tamale “acting out of his mind” by yelling, screaming and talking nonsensically, Price Cohen said.
He refused to identify himself and was saying things like, “You’re crooks, not real police, the bank is corrupt.”
Tamale said he was suicidal at one point and was transported to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan where he was held for a mental health evaluation, Price Cohen said.
Tamale was later charged with one count of robbery, a Class 2 felony, and an arrest warrant was obtained.
“This defendant poses a clear and present danger to the public. For the safety of the community he should be detained,” Price Cohen said.
A public defender for Tamale said his client was experiencing a mental health episode and he is an Army veteran who works for the VA.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted a petition filed to detain Tamale pending trial after he was taken into custody last month.
The judge said that while Tamale does not have any significant criminal history, the unusual facts in the case show he poses a danger to the community and he needs a medication or treatment plan before being released.
Tamale is scheduled to appear in court again on January 22 for a status of preliminary hearing.