A man allegedly threatened to kill a police officer, saying, “In my country, this is not allowed, we don’t forget this,” before trying to disarm the officer in Highwood.
The Highwood Police Department responded around 6:40 a.m. on December 13 to the BP gas station, 104 Washington Avenue in Highwood, for a report of a theft.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Cannon said the employee reported that a male tried to buy alcohol and was refused the sale because it was too early.
The man took a Buzzball alcoholic drink, left money on the counter and drove away.
A description and license plate were provided and officers went to the vehicle owner’s home in the 100 block of High Street in Highwood.
Daniel E. Ortiz, of Highwood, answered the door and matched the description the employee gave, Cannon said.
Officers could see the Buzzball drink inside the apartment and noted that Ortiz was intoxicated.
He was being evasive with police and his pregnant girlfriend was trying to de-escalate him, Cannon said.
Officers told Ortiz he was not allowed to return to the gas station and they left the scene before being called back hours later at 9 a.m.
A third-party caller reported a domestic dispute at the residence and officers arrived to hear music, arguing and sounds of objects breaking.
Cannon said Ortiz peeked his head out of the home and officers made entry to investigate.
They found broken furniture and broken glass all over, including a broken Christmas tree that they had to move to make entry.
Ortiz appeared more intoxicated and started yelling about how he can drink in his own house, Cannon said.
His pregnant girlfriend was still trying to calm him down. There were also children present inside the apartment.
His girlfriend told officers they got into a verbal argument but no physical contact was made.
Officers left the scene but were called back an hour later after receiving an open line 911 call traced back to the home and they returned a third time, Cannon said.
Officers heard arguing and a child peeked their head out from an upstairs window and said, “They’re fighting.”
Ortiz answered the door and told officers he called 911 because he was trying to get his belongings so he could leave but his girlfriend was not letting him.
The girlfriend said she wanted Ortiz to clean up the mess he made before leaving, Cannon said.
Officers escorted Ortiz upstairs to a bedroom where his prepacked bags were on the floor.
Cannon said Ortiz went into the closet, grabbed a folding chair and threw it on the bed. He walked around the room, returned to the closet and grabbed a shelving unit.
He began destroying the shelving unit and used a broken piece to strike a police sergeant in the thigh and knee area, Cannon said.
Ortiz fell onto the bed and officers arrested him, at which time he began making threats to kill everyone in the room, Cannon said.
He tensed up his arms and body and pulled away from the officers after being handcuffed, Cannon said.
Cannon said Ortiz saw the sergeant’s name on his uniform and repeatedly made threats to kill the sergeant and his family.
“I know your name, I’ll never forget your face. You know in my country, this is not allowed, we don’t forget this,” he allegedly said.
Ortiz was transported to the Highwood Police Department and officers began walking him to the holding cell.
Ortiz grabbed the handle and holster of the sergeant’s gun but was unable to pull it out due to the safety lock, Cannon said.
Officers placed him into the holding cell and Ortiz began headbutting the plexiglass barrier on the railings inside the cell at least six times, causing his head to bleed.
Cannon said Ortiz kicked the barrier approximately 15 times until it cracked and broke.
Paramedics were called but Ortiz declined medical treatment and continued to yell threats to kill the sergeant, Cannon said.
Ortiz was charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer, attempting to disarm a peace officer, threatening a public official and criminal damage to government property.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Ortiz pending trial, calling him a danger to others.
“This Defendant is undoubtedly a danger to the community. Police responded to situations involving this Defendant three times in one morning. When the police were there to help him, he instead chose to hit Sgt. [name], before making several threats to kill him, and later grabbing at Sgt. [name]’s service firearm as he was being transported to a holding cell,” Cannon said.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim initially granted the request but days after the detention hearing reversed his decision and released Ortiz.
Ortiz has prior cases in Lake County for unlawful possession of ammunition and criminal damage to property.
Ortiz is scheduled to appear in court again on February 17 for a preliminary hearing.