Crime & Safety
Man Pepper-Sprayed After Punching Cop in the Face: Police
David Garcia of Plainfield is also believed to have been reaching for a box cutter when he was arrested early Saturday, cops said.
A passenger in a vehicle couldn't keep his mouth shut during a traffic stop — and it helped land him in jail, according to police.
David Garcia, 22, of 2601 Joe Alder Dr. in unincorporated Plainfield, is charged with two counts of aggravated battery and resisting a police officer, according to Will County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer.
Garcia was in the backseat of a car when the driver allegedly ran a red light at Jefferson Street and Route 59 in Shorewood at around 2:50 a.m. Saturday, Hoffmeyer said.
Sheriff's deputies made a traffic stop on the vehicle, and spoke with the driver and front-seat passenger, police said.
Although the driver was cooperative, Garcia allegedly began yelling at police from the backseat, prompting deputies to ask him to step out of the vehicle, Hoffmeyer said.
After Garcia repeatedly refused to get out of the car, deputies began to forcibly remove him from the vehicle — at which point, Garcia allegedly punched a deputy in the face, Hoffmeyer said.
Police said Garcia also appeared to be reaching for something in the backseat. Deputies found a box cutter where he had been sitting, Hoffmeyer said.
After Garcia hit the officer, he was pepper-sprayed but continued to resist, Hoffmeyer said. Officers were eventually able to subdue him, she said.
Hoffmeyer said the deputy who was punched was treated and released from Silver Cross Hospital. Despite sporting a swollen eye in his booking photo, Garcia was not taken to the hospital, according to police.
The driver of the car was cited for disregarding a traffic-control device, Hoffmeyer said.
According to jail records, in addition to aggravated battery of an officer and resisting an officer, Garcia was also charged with obstruction of justice and battery.
Bond information for Garcia was not immediately available Monday. He remained in custody at the Will County jail.
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