Man arrested after allegedly punching election judge at polling station: police

When officers arrived at the polling station in Orland Park, Illinois, they found Daniel Schmidt, 24, being held back by several people.

An Illinois man was arrested after he allegedly punched an election judge after he cut the line at a polling place, authorities said.

Daniel Schmidt, 24, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a victim over 60, two counts of aggravated assault in a public place and five counts of resisting arrest and misdemeanor disorderly conduct, the Orland Park Police Department said in a statement. press release distributed on Monday, November 4.

On Sunday, Nov. 3, around 11 a.m., officers responded to the Orland Park Office on a report of a man “causing a disturbance” in the voting line, according to the statement. When they arrived, they found Schmidt being restrained by several people inside the polling station.

Police say Schmidt entered the building that morning by jumping the line of voters waiting to enter the building. An election judge posted at the entrance told Schmidt to go to the back of the line and wait his turn, but he allegedly refused, according to police.

When another election judge who was called to help told Schmidt to move to the back of the line, police say he tried to get past that election judge and other workers. They stopped Schmidt, but he allegedly started yelling profanities and punched the election judge in the face, knocking off the person’s glasses, according to police.

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“At that point, several other patrons jumped in and restrained Schmidt until officers arrived,” the statement said.

Police said Schmidt was held overnight and brought to the Bridgeview District Court for a detention hearing. It is unclear whether he entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.