Man Attacks Elmhurst Cop, Tries To Disarm Him: Police

Elmhurst IL

17 December, 2021

7:23 AM

Description

ELMHURST, IL — A man beat up an officer and attempted to disarm him this week after the officer tried to help him, authorities said. Alexander Speweik, 34, of Elgin, was charged with a number of felonies after the incident. He was jailed in lieu of a $200,000 bond. Still jailed as of Friday morning, he must come up with 10 percent to be released. Shortly after 2 a.m. Wednesday, the officer was on patrol when he saw a pedestrian, later identified as Speweik, on the street walking alone, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. It was near North and Emroy avenues, police said. After speaking with Speweik, the officer offered to drive him to the police station, where his mother would pick him up, police said. Then Speweik entered the driver's seat of the officer's car, which was running on lockout mode, meaning it could not be drive, according to a state's attorney's news release. After Speweik shut the door, the officer opened it and removed him from the car, police said. The man then knocked the officer to the ground, got on top of the officer and pressed his knee into the officer's head, police said. Speweik placed his hand on the officer's gun and attempted to take it, but could not, the release said. Speweik struck the officer several times, causing injuries, police said. Another officer arrived and used a Taser on Speweik, who resisted both officers as they tried to place him in handcuffs, according to the news release. "Day in and day out, our law enforcement officers face a dangerous uncertainty every time they put on their badge," State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. "Their job is unlike any other. Any encounter an officer may have, even when they are trying to help someone, as in this case, may turn physical at any moment. I commend the officer involved in this incident not only for his willingness to help someone he believed was in need, but also for denying Speweik's attempt to gain control of his firearm. We are all very grateful he was not seriously injured." Speweik was charged with attempting to disarm a police officer, aggravated battery to a police officer, attempted possession of a stolen vehicle and two counts of resisting a police officer.