Illinois police have issued a warrant for a 62-year-old man who was involved with protests in August. The man allegedly engaged in illegal activities during demonstrations following Jacob Blake’s shooting in Kenosha. Police say the man kicked down the door of the Kenosha Public Safety Building. He allegedly stated he wanted to break a police officer’s fingers while doing so. What criminal penalties might he be facing for such actions?
Attempted Battery to a Law Enforcement Officer
Prosecutors have charged the man with attempted battery to a law enforcement officer. As protests regarding police violence occurred throughout the summer, multiple people have faced charges for aggravated battery to a police officer. The crime of aggravated battery to a police officer is a serious one in Illinois. It is a felony offense, and defendants can face multiple years in prison. In Illinois, depending on the factors in each case, a defendant may be charged with the following penalties for the attempted battery to a law enforcement officer:
- Class 4 felony (1-3 years in prison)
- Class 3 felony (2-5 years in prison)
- Class 3 felony (2-7 years in prison)
Why You Need an Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer in Your Corner
If you have been charged with attempted battery to a law enforcement officer, you need to consult with an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Illinois prosecutors take this criminal charge seriously. Prosecutors and police officers are often friendly with each other, and prosecutors make it a priority to secure convictions against people who allegedly attacked or tried to attack police officers.
Prosecutors often side with police officers without even listening to the defendant’s version of what happened. You will need an aggressive criminal defense lawyer who will advocate for your rights and explain your perspective of what happened. In some cases, it is the police officers who are at fault for the incident. Perhaps the officers engaged in police brutality, and the defendant was trying to protect him or herself.
Many cases involving attempted battery to a law enforcement officer involved resisting arrest. Law enforcement officers often claim that a suspect tried to resist arrest in order to justify the charge of aggravated battery to a police officer. As the defendant, you may be able to prove that you were not resisting arrest.
A criminal defense lawyer can help you gather evidence, records, videos from the police body cameras, and call logs that show that you are not resisting arrest. You may be able to use dispatch calls and toxicology reports to demonstrate that the police officers are not telling the truth about what happened in your situation.
Contact Glasgow & Olsson Today
When you need a lawyer, experience matters. Contact the award-winning criminal defense lawyers at Glasgow & Olsson today to schedule your initial consultation.