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    • Man arrested after punching election worker in the face in Orland Park
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    Man arrested after punching election worker in the face in Orland Park

    Online Niel Posted on

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    A 24-year-old man was jailed this week on multiple felony charges after police say he became impatient at an Illinois polling place and allegedly punched an elderly man. electoral official in front.

    The incident happened around 11 a.m. Sunday in Orland Park, a village in Cook County Orland Park Police Department reported.

    The town is about 27 miles southwest of Chicago.

    Officers responded to Orland Park City Office for a report of a man causing a disturbance in the voting line, according to to a press release.

    Officers on the scene learned that a man, identified as Daniel Schmidt, entered the city building and “walked past several other voters who were waiting in line to enter the polling area,” the department said in a statement. “An election judge posted at the entrance told Schmidt: Go to the back of the line and wait his turn, which Schmidt refused.”

    At that point, officials said, another election judge was called in to assist.

    Live updates on Election Day issues: Legal battles and long, long queues

    Profanity and a punch that knocked the judge’s glasses off his face

    Again, police reported, Schmidt was told to go to the end of the line.

    At one point, Schmidt allegedly tried to walk past that election judge and was prevented from entering by that judge and several other employees.

    “Schmidt began yelling profanities and punched the election judge in the face, knocking off his glasses,” police wrote in the statement. “At that point, several other patrons jumped out and restrained Schmidt until officers arrived.”

    Police said the victim – a 74-year-old man – refused medical attention at the scene and was expected to recover.

    While being arrested, Schmidt also resisted police, the department reported.

    No officers were injured.

    The release did not explain why Schmidt, of Orland Park, appeared agitated or identify his political party.

    “He declined to speak and did not mention political affiliation,” Police Chief Kenneth J Rosinski told USA TODAY on Tuesday.

    Man who punched election worker jailed without bail

    Schmidt was held overnight and transported to a local courthouse for a detention hearing.

    Cook County District Attorney’s Office charged Schmidt with two felony counts of aggravated assault on a victim over 60, two felony counts of aggravated assault in a public place, five misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.

    A judge arraigned Schmidt on Monday, police said, and released him on bail conditions, including wearing some form of electronic monitoring.

    The photo of Schmidt provided by police appears to show a bloody cut on the left side of his face. In another public image posted online by the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Schmidt grins from ear to ear.

    It was not immediately known if Schmidt had obtained an attorney.

    Schmidt is due back in court on November 22.

    USA TODAY contacted township officials.

    This story has been updated to add new information.

    Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

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