A man allegedly went behind the counter during a dispute with employees at a Gurnee motel and beat multiple workers with a baseball bat, sending them to the hospital Tuesday morning.
Cameron R. Scott, 35, was charged with two counts of aggravated battery.
The Gurnee Police Department and Gurnee Fire Department responded around 10:55 a.m. Tuesday to the Gurnee Motel, formerly the FairBridge Inn Express, located at 3740 Grand Avenue, for a report of a disturbance involving multiple people.
Gurnee Police Department Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor said that staff at the business called 911 after Scott, who was a patron, was involved in a verbal dispute with one of the employees.
“During the incident, Scott went behind the counter and entered a restricted area of the business, where the argument continued,” Gaylor said.
“As the clerk attempted to retrieve a baseball bat from beneath the counter, Scott struck her in the head with his fist,” Gaylor added.
Scott then allegedly took the metal baseball bat and used it to strike the female employee.
Additional employees responded after hearing the disturbance.
Scott allegedly charged at the other employees and began hitting them with the bat.
“During the altercation, one male employee was struck in the head with the bat,” Gaylor said.
Employees were able to restrain Scott until Gurnee police officers arrived.
The officers saw several people in the parking lot who were holding Scott on the ground.
Scott was in possession of the bat when officers arrived, Gaylor said.
A total of four ambulances from the Gurnee Fire Department, along with a fire engine and the shift commander, responded to the scene, Gurnee Battalion Fire Chief Tim Steffens said.
Firefighter/paramedics took three employees to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville to be evaluated for their injuries.
“Scott was also transported to the hospital for evaluation of injuries sustained during the incident,” Gaylor said.
Steffens said all four sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
A fifth person was evaluated by paramedics but refused to be transported to the hospital.
Crime scene tape was set up at a portion of the parking lot by the front doors of the motel.
Blood was seen on the ground of several portions of the crime scene.
A blood-soaked towel, G-Shock watch and face mask were left behind.
Officers were seen taking photos and processing evidence both inside and outside the motel.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and approved the two counts of aggravated battery against Scott.
A booking photo for Scott was not immediately available because he had not yet been booked into the Lake County Jail as of early Tuesday evening.
He is expected to appear at the Lake County Courthouse for his First Appearance Court hearing on Wednesday morning.
The incident remains under investigation by the Gurnee Police Department.