Gurnee man charged with assaulting Wheeling cops

A 27-year-old Gurnee man arrested for driving under the influence early Thursday morning also faces battery and assault charges after attacking two Wheeling police officers, a spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney's office said.

Ryan Lentz, of the 36000 block of Grandville, is charged with resisting arrest, battery and two counts of aggravated assault.

Lentz was in the process of bonding out on the DUI charge at 1:27 a.m. Thursday at the Wheeling Police Department, One Community Blvd., when he became irate, said Andy Conklin, Cook County state's attorney's office spokesman.

Lentz got into a fight with an officer at the station. The two began to struggle when Lentz grabbed the officer by the radio attached to his shoulder, Conklin said.

“Eventually the cop is pinned up against a wall at the police station,” Conklin said.

Lentz then head-butted another officer who was trying to take him to the lockup, Conklin said.

The first officer who was involved in the struggle with Lentz suffered a twisted knee and was taken to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.

The officer has since been released, Wheeling Deputy Police Chief John Teevans said.

Lentz's bond was set Thursday at $15,000. Lentz is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Feb. 17 at the Rolling Meadows courthouse.