Streamwood man gets prison for striking officer

A Streamwood man who threatened and tried to disarm a Cook County Sheriff’s Department Police Officer after the officer stopped him for a traffic offense pleaded guilty to the charges Monday.

A Cook County judge sentenced Mark Hajduk, 50, to three years in prison in exchange for his guilty plea to charges of aggravated battery to a police officer and aggravated DUI. Both are class two felonies punishable by three to seven years in prison, with probation an option.

The officer stopped Hajduk on Feb. 5 in the vicinity of Golf and Roselle roads for swerving between lanes. After stopping the car, the officer noticed the defendant smelled of alcohol, slurred his speech and had bloodshot, watery eyes, said Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Mike Clarke during Hajduk’s sentencing hearing.

After Hajduk failed field sobriety tests, the officer proceeded to place him in custody. Hajduk yelled an obscenity, hit the officer in the face and grabbed for the officer’s weapon, Clarke said.

At Hajduk’s February bail hearing, prosecutors indicated he had a DUI conviction in 2003 and received supervision for DUI in 1985 and 1991. He must complete at least 50 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.