A judge refused to release a suspect who prosecutors say worked with 15-20 other motorcyclists when they surrounded a 61-year-old man’s car before the armed suspect “brutally” beat him in Lake in the Hills.
Julio C. Salas, 35, of Sleepy Hollow, was charged with aggravated battery in a public place, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, mob action, unlawful restraint, aggravated assault, two counts of battery and disorderly conduct.
The Lake in the Hills Police Department and Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire District responded around 3:50 p.m. Saturday to the area of Route 31 and Virginia Road in Lake in the Hills for a report of an assault victim.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said the victim’s vehicle was encircled by a group of motorcycles, forcing them to a stop.
Approximately 15-20 people riding motorcycles acted together, including Salas, the complaint said.
Salas “unlawfully restrained” the victim by his and the group’s actions in preventing the victim from leaving, the complaint said.
Prosecutors said on Monday that Salas approached the 61-year-old male victim’s car, along with others from his group.
Salas brandished a large knife during the altercation with the victim before physically attacking him, the complaint said.
Prosecutors said Salas “brutally” struck the victim multiple times in the face and head with both his fists and a motorcycle helmet.
The victim suffered multiple injuries to his body, including significant bruising and swelling beneath his right eye, prosecutors said. Paramedics were called to the scene to treat the victim.
Salas and the rest of the group of motorcyclists fled the scene after the attack.
Officers with the Crystal Lake Police Department were able to stop most of the riders.
The victim was brought to various locations where the motorcyclists had been stopped and was able to identify Salas as the primary aggressor who physically attacked him, prosecutors said.
Court documents said the victim was accused of striking Salas’ motorcycle. A witness told police the victim was getting “the s–t beat out of him.”
Lake in the Hills Police Department arrested Salas and transported him to the McHenry County Jail.
No one else has been charged in connection with the incident yet, court records show.
Salas appeared in Initial Appearance Court on Monday afternoon and the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain him.
Prosecutors successfully argued that Salas poses a real and present threat to the safety of the victim and the community.
McHenry County Judge Michael Feetterer granted the petition following the hearing. The judge said the allegations were “terrifying” and the reaction to the alleged contact between the car and motorcycle was inappropriate.
“Violence on our roadways will not be tolerated. The allegations in this case describe a baseless, senseless, and brutal attack on a 61-year-old man by a group of motorcyclists,” McHenry County State’s Attorney Freese said.
“We will continue to aggressively seek detention when the facts demonstrate, as they did in this case, that a defendant poses a threat to the safety of others,” Freese said.
Salas remains held in the jail and is scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday.