ORLAND PARK, Ill. (NewsNation) — An Illinois man was arrested after officials say he punched an election judge at an Orland Park polling location Sunday morning.
The Orland Park Police Department said at around 11 a.m., officers were sent to the Orland Park Township Office, located in the 14800 block of Ravinia Avenue, for reports of a man causing a disturbance in the voting line. When officers arrived, they found a man - identified as 24-year-old Daniel Schmidt - being restrained by multiple people inside the building.
Schmidt reportedly went into the building and walked past numerous other voters waiting in line to enter the voting area. An election judge posted at the entrance told Schmidt to go to the back of the line and wait his turn, which he refused.
At that time, another election judge was called to help diffuse the situation. Schmidt was again told to go to the back of the line, but he instead tried to push past the election judge. Several other employees stepped in and prevented Schmidt from entering, according to investigators.
Police said Schmidt then started yelling profanities and punched an election judge in the face, knocking their glasses off. Several other patrons then jumped in to help and restrained Schmidt until officers arrived.
Schmidt resisted arrest but was eventually taken into custody and taken to Orland Park Police Headquarters. He has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery to a victim over 60, two counts of aggravated battery in a public place, five misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.