Man punches election judge in face trying to get to voting area, Illinois officials say
Published in News & Features
An Illinois man was arrested after police said he punched an election judge in the face.
Officers responded Nov. 3 at about 11 a.m. to reports of a man “causing a disturbance in the voting line,” at the Orland Park Township Office, according to a Nov. 4 news release from the village of Orland Park.
Police found 24-year-old Daniel Schmidt “restrained by numerous people” inside the building, officials said.
Authorities learned Schmidt had entered the building and walked past voters waiting in line, according to the release.
An election judge “told Schmidt to go to the back of the line and wait his turn,” but he refused, officials said.
A second election judge gave Schmidt the same instructions at which point he tried to push past the judge but was blocked by several employees, authorities said.
“Schmidt began to yell profanities and punched the election judge in the face, knocking their glasses off,” officials said.
Police and Cook County prosecutors said the election judge was a 74-year-old man, WBBM reported.
Several other people “jumped in and restrained” Schmidt until police arrived, officials said.
Schmidt was arrested on two counts of aggravated battery to a victim over 60, two counts of aggravated battery in a public place, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, officials said. Attorney information for Schmidt was not available.
Orland Park is about a 25-mile drive southwest from Chicago.
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