A 19-year-old man experiencing a mental health episode stabbed the rear window of an occupied CPD squad car and then confronted two cops who were in the car with a knife in Rogers Park, prosecutors said.
The incredible new details of Tuesday evening’s incident emerged during a bail hearing for the man who also suffered injuries when his neighbor, a concealed carry holder, fired a shot while trying to control him before police arrived, officials said.
Tony Vasquez, 19, is charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault to peace officers, misdemeanor domestic battery causing bodily harm, and misdemeanor aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Judge Barbara Dawkins set his bail at $20,000, which means he will need to post $2,000 to get out of jail.
Around 10:40 p.m. Tuesday, Vasquez grabbed a knife and threatened to kill his mother in their apartment on the 1500 block of West Juneway Terrace, according to the allegations. His mother, 56, cut her hand while grabbing the knife during the altercation.
A 57-year-old concealed carry holder who lives nearby heard the commotion and called 911 before going to the family’s unit to see what was going on, police and prosecutors said.
Before officers arrived, the neighbor pulled out his gun and fired a round into the ground to discourage Vasquez from charging toward him, Assistant State’s Attorney Joseph Mahoney said.
A bullet fragment struck Vasquez in the leg. Still carrying the knife, he allegedly made his way past another neighbor, who was armed with a baseball bat, and began walking up the street as a CPD unit arrived.
Vasquez approached the marked patrol car with the knife, and CPD officers reversed their squad as far as possible, but Mahoney said they were eventually unable to retreat any further.
At that point, Vasquez stabbed the squad car’s rear window, he continued.
The officers drove their car forward, then stepped out as Vasquez approached both of them with the knife, Mahoney said. He ignored their orders to stop and one of them “neutralized” Vasquez with a Taser when he came within 12 feet, according to Mahoney.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 8 p.m. on February 11 to reflect a corrected spelling of Vasquez’s last name, which appeared as “Vazquez” in bond court records. Vasquez’s mugshot, which became available after our story appeared, was also added at this time.