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| Inmate charged in attack on officer |
| By Chicago Daily Herald |
| Published: 01/12/2004 |
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After a violent scuffle with a Marengo, Ill. police detective, a DuPage County jail inmate is accused of putting on the unconscious officer's clothes in an effort to escape. Prosecutors charged Charles R. Anthony last Wednesday with attempted murder and aggravated battery of a police officer and attempted escape. Detective Joseph Sangirardi still can't recall much of the Jan. 2 jailhouse beating beyond the first punch. He was released from the hospital last Monday after being treated for serious head and facial injuries. Anthony admitted attacking the officer in videotaped statements, officials said. "The attack was an extremely brutal one, resulting in life-threatening injuries," DuPage State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said. "This officer was working and protecting us. His family ended their holiday weekend in prayer that their loved one would live." The inmate had been jailed since Dec. 30 after being arrested in Bensenville on suspicion he stole a 2000 Jeep Cherokee in Marengo. The car belonged to his girlfriend's mother. Sangirardi, 42, visited the jail to question Anthony about related crimes, including forgery. An unarmed Sangirardi ended the interrogation after about an hour at 4:30 p.m., but Anthony asked the officer to return to talk. A violent fight ensued, authorities said. Within minutes, deputies stormed into the locked room. Sangirardi was semiconscious, authorities said. Anthony, who suffered a minor cut above his right eye, had ditched his jail garb and was wearing the detective's pants and shoes. He surrendered peacefully. The 7-by-7-foot interview room is near the jail's busy booking area. It contains a door with a small window. The room is not equipped with security cameras, but deputies monitor its activities every few minutes and sometimes stand guard at the door if the inmate is deemed violent. In this case, Sangirardi did not request the backup. DuPage Sheriff John Zaruba said it was the first time a police officer from an outside agency had been injured in the jail. It appears proper security procedures were followed, he said. DuPage Circuit Judge Kenneth Moy set a temporary $1 million bond based on the new charges. Anthony will appear in bond court this morning, when prosecutor Steven Knight will request a permanent bond. An attempted murder charge normally carries a maximum prison term of 30 years. If convicted, Anthony faces up to 80 years behind bars because the incident involves a police officer. |
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