Arlington Hts. altercation ends when police officer draws gun

An Arlington Heights man faces multiple charges after an escalating altercation with an employee and police over a dog at a local hotel led to an officer drawing a gun to defend the employee, acccording to Arlington Heights police reports.

Mitchell A. Nowak, 40, of the 1200 block of Woodford, was arrested around 8:40 a.m. April 6 at Red Roof Inn, 22 W. Algonquin Road, and charged with felony aggravated battery to a police officer, battery, aggravated assault, damage to state-supported property, and resisting a police officer.

Police reports gave this account:

A hotel manager asked Nowak to leave because a dog, belonging to a woman who had rented the guest room where he was present, was running free inside the hotel. An officer was called when Nowak refused to leave.

The female officer was writing down information when Nowak grabbed the paperwork and tossed it on the floor. Nowak then entered the guest room and tried to close the door.

The manager stopped him, and Nowak slapped him. Nowak pushed the officer on the chest with both hands; she staggered back but did not fall.

Nowak then grabbed a pair of scissors in the room and held them to the manager’s face. The officer drew her handgun. Nowak and the dog fled. Officers found him near another hotel in the 2100 block of South Arlington Heights Road.

At the police department, Nowak was allowed to use a phone in the lockup. After making the call, he kicked the phone off the wall and broke it.

According to reports, Nowak was on parole for an undisclosed previous conviction. His court date is May 3.