A suspect has been charged after authorities say he randomly attacked a person who was landscaping at a home in Waukegan and then barricaded himself, prompting a SWAT standoff Friday.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team was requested Friday afternoon to assist the Waukegan Police Department at a home in the 600 block of Mill Court in Waukegan, which is near Powell Park.
The Waukegan Police Department is a member of the sheriff’s SWAT team.
Armored vehicles and a slew of SWAT officers were seen responding to the scene.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said a person was barricaded after committing an aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
The suspect was identified as Jose J. Solorio, 46, of Waukegan.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Garrett Miller said the incident began after a Waukegan police officer was on patrol and was flagged down in the 600 block of Grand Avenue.
The victim was bleeding from the ear and sought help from the officer.
He had been landscaping at the home when a “random guy,” later identified as Solorio, walked up and hit him on the back of the head with a wooden blunt object, Miller said.
The victim suffered a two-inch laceration on the back of his head.
The male victim had never seen Solorio before and residents at the home in the 600 block of Grand Avenue informed police that Solorio was known to them and had been harassing them for a while, Miller said.
They had a valid emergency stalking no-contact order against Solorio.
The order was issued in part as a result of Solorio previously entering their property armed with a wooden blunt object and a knife, Miller said.
The residents do not otherwise know Solorio, who barricaded himself in his home on Mill Court after the attack while armed with the weapon. “The Defendant’s behavior is erratic,” Miller said.
Police vehicles lined along Grand Avenue and North Ash Street.
Two ambulances with the Waukegan Fire Department were also staging in the area.
SWAT officers were seen bringing up breaching tools and less-lethal tools to the home.
At around 3:20 p.m., a loud boom was heard and Solorio was taken into custody shortly after, according to a Lake & McHenry County Scanner reporter.
The man was transferred to the Waukegan Fire Department and was transported to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan.
Solorio was charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Solorio was later transferred to the Lake County Jail and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office filed a petition to detain him pending trial.
“The Defendant is a real and present threat to the victim and the community at large. The Defendant’s behavior appears uncontrollable. He is subjecting people who are seemingly random members of the public to serious violent attacks. It is unlikely that such an individual will submit themselves to a condition or set of conditions,” Miller said.
Lake County Judge Michael Nerheim granted the request during a detention hearing on Monday afternoon.
Solorio remains held in custody and was scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday for a status of fitness hearing.