Violence Continues Against Election Judges

WGN-TV9 is reporting that a man was arrested for punching an election judge at an Orland Park polling location Sunday morning.

According to the news release, 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 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.

Further details state that at the time he refused to go back to to the line, 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 Orland Park Police arrived on the scene.

Schmidt allegedly initially 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.