A north suburban Niles man who allegedly told police he had taken LSD is accused of grabbing an officer’s taser, hitting the officer in the head with it and jumping into the driver’s seat of his running squad car.
Joshua Dartez, 24, of 8855 Greenwood Ave. in Niles, faces criminal charges — including felony disarming of a police officer and felony aggravated battery to an officer — in connection with the Oct. 13 incident, the Pioneer Press is reporting.
An officer encountered Dartez while responding to a report of a man attempting to open car doors in the parking lot of Baker’s Square, 8584 Dempster St., and along an adjacent street at about 2:40 p.m., according to Niles police.
A woman told police she was inside her car when a man, later identified as Dartez, approached and tried to open her locked car door, police said. Dartez then tried to open the door of another car belonging to the woman’s mother before heading to other vehicles in the restaurant parking lot, police said.
When police arrived and began to speak with Dartez, he attempted to open the driver’s side door of a squad car, prompting the responding officer — who had called for back-up — to push Dartez away, police said.
Dartez sat on the ground but suddently jumped back up, opened the driver’s door of the squad car, got inside and put his foot on the accelerator, “revving the engine,” police said.
When the officer attempted to use a taser on Dartez, the device had no effect, as it penetrated only Dartez’s jacket, police said. The officer pulled Dartez out of the squad car, but Dartez grabbed the officer’s taser, striking the officer with it on the left side of his head, police said.
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A witness to the altercation helped the officer restrain Dartez on the ground until other responding units arrived, police said.
Dartez, who said he had taken “acid” that day, resisted efforts to take him into custody, removed his pants, and kicked the rear driver’s side door of the squad car three times, attempting to open it, according to police.
Niles paramedics transported Dartez to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Dartez was put in restraints but yelled for the emergency crews to let him go, police said.
In addition to aggravated battery and disarming a police officer, Dartez was charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest and two counts of criminal trespass to a vehicle.
Bond information was not available Thursday night. Dartez is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 30.
