Prosecutors say three men armed with knives “terrorized” a public park full of people in Antioch when they violently attacked two people, one of whom was stomped on and punched 16 times.
The Antioch Police Department responded around 9 p.m. Saturday to Sequoit Creek Park, 845 Main Street in Antioch, for a report of a disturbance in progress.
Antioch Police Department Patrol Commander Jared Brussaly said it was reported to involve multiple people, several of whom were armed with knives.
An on-duty Antioch Police Department officer was monitoring the village’s public-area surveillance system, which includes extensive camera coverage of Sequoit Creek Park.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Cannon said the officer happened to be monitoring the live cameras for a different matter at the time.
The officer observed several people exiting a vehicle and began chasing another person through the park, Brussaly said.
Multiple 911 calls came in from juveniles at the scene advising that a person had pulled a knife on their best friend, Cannon said.
Two of those involved were seen to be armed with large fixed-bladed knives, Brussaly said.
The information was immediately broadcast over police radio and multiple Antioch police officers responded.
Officers arrived on the scene and safely took three subjects into custody.
Witnesses told police that several of those involved were armed with fixed-blade knives at the park, Brussaly said.
Cannon said Nicholas Pluta, 21, of Trevor, Wisconsin, and Mitchell Alcock, 20, of Volo, were observed arriving together at the park and exiting the vehicle.
Alcock ran towards the fire pit where both victims and other people were gathered.
He was recorded holding the knife to a victim’s neck, making contact and causing a puncture wound, while threatening to kill them, Cannon and Brussaly said.
Cannon said Alcock continued to run back and forth across the park bridge, threatening to kill everyone and anyone that was nearby, including the security officers at the park.
Pluta was recorded running and hopping over the fire pit towards the victims and approaching a second victim with a large silver knife in hand, Cannon said.
That victim initially prepared to fight Pluta but then ran towards the bridge at the sight of the knife.
Cannon said the victim stumbled and fell as Pluta chased him with the knife and Pluta swung a fist and hit the victim in the face while holding the knife.
Pluta kick-stomped the victim and then punched the victim repeatedly, striking him in the face, head and neck area approximately 12 times, Cannon said.
Pluta ran towards the men’s restroom when police arrived and officers found a knife sheath in a toilet.
Brian Marciniak, 21, of North Chicago, was recorded arriving at the park prior to the other suspects, Cannon said.
Cannon said Marciniak followed the other suspects to the fire pit where the victims were and punched one of the victims in the head four times as Pluta also attacked that victim.
Pluta put the knife down and Marciniak picked up the knife to conceal it, Cannon said, adding that Marciniak struck the victim while still holding the knife at one point.
Marciniak tossed the knife into the bushes before following Pluta into the men’s restroom, Cannon said. Police found the knife in the bushes where Marciniak threw it.
One of the victims suffered a bleeding laceration where the skin above his right eye was split and he was covered in bruises. The other victim suffered a small puncture hole in his neck, Cannon said.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a Class 3 felony, for each of the three suspects arrested.
Police detectives are still working with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office as the case remains under review and the Antioch Police Department seeks additional criminal charges.
The suspects were also issued 11 additional citations related to their involvement in the incident.
Officers were familiar with all of the parties from prior contacts and the entire incident was captured on surveillance video.
Alcock and Pluta got into a physical fight with the victims two nights earlier in the area. The subjects were somewhat uncooperative at the time and cited with ordinance violations.
The Antioch Police Department said they recognize the actions of the Per Mar Security officers who were working at Sequoit Creek Park during the incident.
“Upon recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the security officers immediately attempted to intervene and protect park patrons until one of the armed suspects turned his attention to them and threatened them with a knife,” Brussaly said.
“Their quick recognition of the danger and commitment to the safety of others is commendable, and the Antioch Police Department appreciates their professionalism and cooperation throughout the incident,” Brussaly said.
The Antioch Village Board recently approved the contract for Per Mar Security officers to conduct daily patrols in and around Sequoit Creek Park as part of the village’s ongoing efforts to enhance public safety.
Antioch police officers and Community Service Officers also regularly patrol village parks on foot and in patrol vehicles.
Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow praised the coordinated response by everyone involved.
“This incident had the potential to end in tragedy. The security officers on scene, the officer monitoring the Village’s camera system, and the responding Antioch Police officers all acted immediately, and their collaborative response helped prevent a tragic outcome. Their vigilance, professionalism, and quick action were critical in bringing this dangerous situation under control,” Guttschow said.
“This kind of violence is inconsistent with our community’s values, and it is not something the Antioch Police Department, the Village, or our residents will tolerate. This was a targeted incident involving known individuals, not a random attack on park patrons. The Antioch Police Department will work closely with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office to pursue the strongest charges supported by the facts and the law, and we will use every lawful tool available to hold offenders accountable,” he added.
Lake County Judge Ari Fisz granted petitions to detain Pluta, Alcock and Marciniak pending trial and they remain held in the Lake County Jail.
“These Defendants terrorized a public park full of people, and violently attacked two of them on a Saturday night. When police arrived, the Defendants fled, and tried to hide evidence in the restroom and in the bushes. These Defendants have a history of violent, assaultive, or abusive behavior against others, and given the escalation of their conduct and involvement against these victims, detention is the only way to ensure another violent episode does not occur,” Cannon said.
The Antioch Police Department said it remains committed to keeping the village’s parks and public spaces safe.
Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to contact the Antioch Police Department at 847-395-8585.