A 24-year-old Orland Park man faces charges after he punched an election judge Sunday at an early voting site, police said Monday.
Daniel Schmidt is charged with offenses including aggravated battery and had an initial appearance Monday at the Bridgeview courthouse.
Orland Park police said they were called at about 11 a.m. Sunday to the Orland Township offices, 14807 Ravinia Ave, for a man causing a disturbance in the voting line.
Police said Schmidt was “restrained by numerous people” after he entered the early voting site and bypassed a line of other people waiting to vote.
An election judge posted at the entrance told Schmidt to go to the back of the line and wait
his turn, which Schmidt refused, police said. At that point, another election judge called to assist also instructed Schmidt to go to the back of the line, police said.
Schmidt attempted to push past that election judge and was prevented from entering by
that judge and several other employees. Schmidt began to yell profanities and
punched the election judge in the face, police said.
At that point several other people jumped in and restrained Schmidt until officers arrived, police said.
Schmidt is charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a person over 60 years of age as well as misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, according to police.