CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) -
The security guard who scuffled with the son of Illinois Senate President John Cullerton outside a Wicker Park bar Sunday night claims the younger Cullerton interfered with the arrest of another man, mentioned his father's title, and said the guard would be in trouble if Cullerton's friend wasn't released.
"He kept repeating that over and over," Roberto Gonzalez said. "My dad's a senator."
Gonzalez, who said he's worked as a licensed security guard for 10 years and is authorized to carry handcuffs and a baton, said it began when the other man, Ryan Katzman, a tenant of the building where the Innjoy bar is located in the 2000 block of West Division Street, came down to the bar.
Katzman "had been trying to cause trouble the past three days" at the bar, Gonzalez said. About 10:30 p.m. Sunday, the final day of the Do-Division street festival. Katzman was told to leave but wouldn't go, and refused to let go of a patio chair outside the bar, so Gonzalez handcuffed him.
He then walked Katzman down to some police officers on the block but the officers had another call and told Gonzalez to hold Katzman until they returned. Gonzalez said he was on the curb with Katzman when Garritt M. Cullerton came by and said, "Hey, that's my buddy, let him go."
Cullerton then started shoving Gonzalez in the shoulder, Gonzalez claims. He told Cullerton not to touch him, at which time Cullerton said, "I am going to punch you in the face. Punch you in the f---ing face and knock you out."
"We then started dancing in circles," Gonzalez said, with Cullerton attempting to punch him and Gonzalez holding a baton behind his back. Gonzalez did not use the baton on Cullerton, who kept saying, "My father's a senator. You f---ed up. I demand that you let him go."
When police returned to the bar, they arrested Katzman and Cullerton.
Cullerton, 28, of the 2800 block of West Sunnyside Avenue, was charged with misdemeanor assault, police News Affairs Officer Darryl Baety said. Katzman, also 28, was charged with a misdemeanor count of criminal trespass to land, according to News Affairs Officer Robert Perez.
Both were released on personal recognizance bonds and are scheduled to appear in court on June 25 at Branch 43 at 3150 W. Flournoy St., police said.
It is not first time Cullerton has been in trouble with the law. He pleaded guilty in January 2011 to a misdemeanor DUI charge. He was arrested driving an SUV registered to the state Senate when he was stopped in the 800 block of North Dearborn in the early morning hours of April 18, 2010.
Police said he registered a blood-alcohol level of 0.188, more than twice the legal limit. He was also ticketed for improper lane usage. Cullerton was sentenced to two years probation, fined $1,250, ordered to perform 240 hours of community service and ordered to seek treatment for alcohol abuse.
He was also charged with DUI in 2004 and 2008, but not convicted.
