Lake County jail guard accused of not assisting paralyzed inmate has died
A former Lake County jail guard facing charges for not assisting an inmate who was paralyzed during a 2011 jailhouse scuffle has died.
Robert Schlesser, 49, of Round Lake Beach, was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at Centegra Hospital - McHenry. The cause of death was blood clots in his lungs, McHenry County Coroner Anne Majewski said.
Lake County Undersheriff Raymond Rose said he received word early Wednesday about Schlesser's death.
"I'm sure each of you joins me in expressing our deepest sympathy to the Schlesser family," Sheriff Mark Curran said in a department email forwarded by Rose. The email also says visitation for Schlesser will be 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Stang Funeral Chapel and Crematorium, 410 E. Belvidere Road, Grayslake.
Schlesser, and Rodney Holmes, 44, of Zion, pleaded not guilty to official misconduct charges stemming from injuries suffered by Eugene Gruber, 51, of Grayslake, while he was being booked on disorderly conduct and trespassing charges.
Authorities say Gruber was "intoxicated and uncooperative," and repeatedly fought with correctional officers after being brought to the jail Oct. 31, 2011.
At some point, an officer placed Gruber in a "takedown hold" and both fell to the ground. Authorities said Gruber suffered a spinal injury as a result of the fall.
Gruber was placed in a holding cell for 15 hours after first complaining of the injury before Holmes and Schlesser dragged him to a different area of the jail to be photographed.
Holmes and Schlesser were charged, in part, for dragging Gruber through the jail to be photographed, propping him up for the picture, then dragging him back to his cell, authorities said.
Authorities said Schlesser and Holmes also were charged for not reporting Gruber's injuries or getting him the medical attention he required.
Gruber died in March 2012 at a rehabilitation hospital in Chicago.
Schlesser, Holmes, and a third jail employee were fired as a result of Gruber's death. Disciplinary action was filed against seven others, authorities said.
Gruber's family settled a lawsuit against the county for $1.95 million earlier this year.