Veteran Vernon Hills policeman dies of apparent heart attack
One of the Vernon Hills police officers who arrested Circuit Judge David Hall for DUI has died of an apparent heart attack, officials said Tuesday.
Officer Jesse Goldsmith, 42, of Round Lake Beach died about 1 p.m. Monday at Centegra Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry. He had gone to the hospital the previous day complaining of heart problems, McHenry County Deputy Coroner Kim Bostic said. Goldsmith had a history of heart problems, she said.
Vernon Hills police Sgt. Kevin Grampo confirmed Goldsmith's death, but he declined to comment further.
"We are all having a tough time dealing with this right now," Grampo said.
Goldsmith's death is the latest complication in the DUI and resisting arrest case against Hall, but it is not expected to be a major problem in the prosecution.
Just last month, it was revealed at a court session that both squad cars at the scene of Hall's arrest were equipped with video cameras, but neither was recording.
Goldsmith was a 17-year department veteran and one of a group of police officers and Countryside Fire Protection District firefighters who saved the life of a motorist Dec. 17, 2004. The motorist suffered a heart attack while driving on Lakeview Parkway in Vernon Hills. They received the village's Life Savers Award for their actions.
Goldsmith was the officer who stopped Hall's car at 1:45 a.m. April 28 as Hall was driving east on Route 60, west of St. Mary's Road.
According to police reports, Goldsmith was joined at the scene by at least one other officer shortly after Hall's vehicle was stopped.
Hall is accused of refusing to get out of his car at the officer's command, and was eventually pepper-sprayed by police.
Hall was taken to Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where he was treated for 15 hours for an irregular heartbeat and released.
At the time of his arrest, Hall was serving as the chief judge of Lake County's 19th Judicial Circuit. He resigned that position shortly after his arrest and is serving as a judge doing administrative work.
While Goldsmith's death complicates the prosecution of Hall, it does not undo the case because there is at least one other officer available to testify.
Prosecutors also have subpoenaed blood samples taken from Hall while he was at the hospital and are seeking to have them tested for alcohol content.
Natalie Bauer, a spokeswoman for the Illinois attorney general's office that is prosecuting the case, declined to comment Tuesday.
Hall and his attorney, Jason Mercure of Waukegan, also declined to comment.
Hall is scheduled to appear in court June 11.
He faces up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine if convicted of either DUI or resisting arrest. He also could be subject to discipline from the Illinois Courts Commission.