Crime & Safety

Lockport Man Charged with Beating Sleeping 10-Year-Old With Shovel

Nathan Hiatt is accused of attacking the sleeping child, then assaulting the boy's father when he intervened.

A 29-year-old Lockport man is charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery for allegedly beating a 10-year-old boy with a shovel while he slept, according to Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart.

Nathan Hiatt's bond was set at $250,000 during a Sunday court appearance.

As of Monday afternoon, Hiatt remained in custody at Cook County Jail.

Cook County Sheriff’s Police received a call at about 1 a.m. Saturday reporting that a man, for unknown reasons, struck the boy with a metal fireplace shovel while he slept in the 15100 block of 131st Street in unincorporated Lemont.

The boy's 36-year-old father awoke to the child’s screams, and when he shielded the boy from the blows, the father was hit as well, police said. The offender left the house through the back door, according to police.

Police said the owner of the home awoke to the noise, saw blood and called 9-1-1.

Cook County Sheriff's police were given a description of the offender, which matched that of Hiatt.

Responding officers located Hiatt in the yard, under a tree.

The man and his son were treated at an area hospital for their injuries and were later released.

Police said the victims and Hiatt had attended a get together hosted by the homeowner on Friday afternoon.

Hiatt was arrested and charged Saturday with two counts of felony aggravated battery.

He is scheduled to appear Tuesday at the Bridgeview Courthouse.


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