A 24-year-old man was arrested in the state of Illinois for causing a disturbance in a voting line and punching an election judge on Sunday (November 3) – two days before the 2024 US presidential election day. The man, identified as Daniel Schmidt, was arrested by the police on Sunday during early voting.

Schmidt was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a victim over 60, two counts of aggravated assault in a public place, one count of disorderly conduct and five felonies. The incident occurred at 11 a.m. in Orland Park, when police were dispatched to the township office. Other people at the scene jumped in to restrain Schmidt until officers arrived.

“Officers on scene learned that Schmidt had entered the city building and passed several other voters who were waiting in line to enter the polling area,” the Orland Park Police Department said in a news release . “An election judge posted at the entrance told Schmidt to go to the back of the line and wait his turn, which Schmidt refused.”

“Schmidt attempted to walk past that election judge and was prevented from entering by that judge and several other employees,” authorities said. “Schmidt started yelling profanities and punched the election judge in the face, knocking off their glasses.”

“At Orland Park Police Headquarters, the Cook County District Attorney’s Office was contacted and approved (2) charges of Aggravated Battery on a victim over 60 (Class 3 Felony), (2) Charges of Aggravated Battery on a public place (class 3 felony). ), (5) misdemeanors of resisting arrest and a misdemeanor disorderly conduct,” the Orland Park Police Department said.

This is not the only incident of violence in the US election, with multiple attacks and threats issued to disrupt the voting process.

The results of the 2020 US election ultimately led to protesters storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021 – two months after the election and Trump being voted out of office.

(With contributions from agencies)