Authorities say a mother was left in serious condition with a brain bleed after her teenage son, who was taken into custody, attacked her and others at their home in Harvard.
Edwin Vargas, 18, of Harvard, was charged with aggravated domestic battery, aggravated battery to a peace officer, domestic battery causing bodily harm and consumption of liquor by a minor.
The Harvard Police Department responded around 9:30 a.m. on May 20 to the 1700 block of Wildflower Lane in Harvard for a report of a domestic incident.
Harvard Police Chief Tyson Bauman said a caller reported a male subject was out of control and hitting family members.
Officers arrived and arrested Vargas following a thorough investigation, Bauman said.
Bauman said Vargas had punched a female victim in the head numerous times, seriously injuring her.
The victim, who was a family member, was initially transported to Mercyhealth Hospital and Medical Center – Harvard.
She was then transferred to Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital — Riverside in Rockford, which is a Level 1 trauma center, due to the extent of her injuries, Bauman said.
Bauman said Vargas struck an officer in the arm during the arrest. The officer was not injured.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleges that Vargas struck the officer in the left bicep with the back of his right hand.
The complaint said Vargas caused great bodily harm to the female victim by striking her in the head four times with a closed fist.
She was diagnosed with a minimal acute subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is a type of brain bleed, along the right superior frontal sulcus, the complaint said.
The complaint said Vargas bit a second family member on the right collarbone with his mouth. He was additionally accused of consuming alcohol despite being under 21.
Court documents said violence had been ongoing and escalating in the home and that the female victim was Vargas’ mother.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain Vargas pending trial, arguing he poses a danger to his family, and McHenry County Judge Michael Feetterer granted it.
“There is concern with the defendant’s mental health and substance abuse. The court is not aware where the defendant would be and who he would be around. The court cannot create conditions or set of conditions then to mitigate the threat posed by the defendant to any person or persons,” the judge said.
Vargas was ordered to obtain a psychological assessment while in custody.
Vargas remains held in the McHenry County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on June 17 for a preliminary hearing.