Video shows suburban Chicago police officer throw handcuffed suspect to the ground
Newly released body camera video footage shows the moment Waukegan police officer Richard Tabisz threw a handcuffed suspect to the ground on Dec. 14, 2023.
Waukegan Police Department Press Release Re: Officer Richard Tabisz Arrest
On December 14, 2023, at approximately 4:27 pm, Waukegan Police Officers were dispatched to a local area home for a fight in progress.
Upon arrival, Officers learned the suspect fled from the scene after committing a domestic battery and violating a valid order of protection. Officers described the suspect over the radio. Responding Officers located the suspect and placed him into custody for domestic battery and violation of an order of protection-related charges.
Upon apprehension, the suspect was placed under arrest, and was placed in Officer Richard Tabisz’s custody for transport to the police station for processing as Officer Tabisz’s squad car was better equipped to transport the suspect. Between handing-off of the suspect to Officer Tabisz and his placement in the squad car, Officer Tabisz was observed yanking the suspect to the ground after the suspect stopped walking. The suspect’s head then hit the ground, and he sustained a minor injury for which he was treated and released at an area hospital. The suspect was subsequently charged with multiple charges of domestic battery and was held for his first court appearance.
Waukegan Police Department Supervisory personnel were made aware soon after the incident, of Officer Tabisz’s actions toward the suspect by other officers at the scene, and immediately reviewed the body-worn camera footage. After reviewing the footage, Officer Tabisz was sent home that night and placed on administrative leave. The next morning, the Waukegan Police Department brought the case to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office for review and investigation. Officer Tabisz remained on administrative leave during this time.
On January 3, 2024, at the direction of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, Officer Tabisz was called into the Waukegan Police Department, where he was charged with two counts of Official Misconduct and two counts of Battery. Officer Tabisz was charged, processed, and released pending future court proceedings.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Regardless of the criminal proceedings against Officer Tabisz, the City has already initiated an internal investigation and will take decisive action to address the conduct of any officer who does not comply with the City’s internal policies.
Waukegan Mayor Ann Taylor said in a statement she was “deeply disappointed in the actions of this police officer” but was “very proud that the Waukegan Police Department and our officers hold one another accountable for their actions. I applaud the proactive measures in place at the Waukegan Police Department that quickly moved this case to the Lake County State’s Attorney for review”.