A 24-year-old man was arrested on multiple charges, including aggravated battery, after causing a disturbance at the Orland Park Township Office on Sunday.
Around 11 a.m., Orland Park police were dispatched to the polling location at 14807 Ravinia Ave. following reports of a man disrupting the voting line. Upon arrival, officers found Daniel Schmidt restrained by several people inside the Orland Township building.
According to witnesses, Schmidt bypassed other voters waiting in line and attempted to enter the voting area. When an election judge instructed him to return to the back of the line, Schmidt refused. A second judge was called to assist, but Schmidt ignored repeated instructions and tried to force his way into the voting area.
Schmidt then began shouting profanities and punched one of the election judges in the face, knocking off their glasses. Several bystanders intervened and restrained Schmidt until police arrived.
During the arrest, Schmidt resisted officers but was eventually taken into custody. At the Orland Park Police Department, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved two counts of aggravated battery to a victim over 60 and two counts of aggravated battery in a public place, both Class 3 felonies. Schmidt also faces five misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and one count of disorderly conduct.
Schmidt was held overnight and transported to the Bridgeview Courthouse for a detention hearing.