Palatine man charged in severe attack

Using only his fists, a Palatine man beat another man so severely he caused the man's brain to swell, according to Sgt. Tom Gadomski of the Rolling Meadows police department.

"Doctors have put him a drug-induced coma, and we still haven't spoken to him," Gadomski said Monday. "He's in critical condition."

David A. Greer, 48, was charged with aggravated battery for his role in the attack. He was unable to post bond on Friday and will face an Oct. 21 court date in Rolling Meadows.

The incident occurred about 2 p.m. Sept. 23 outside a liquor store on the 4000 block of Algonquin Road in Rolling Meadows. According to police, Greer and the victim were intoxicated and got into a fight that left the victim unconscious. Greer then drove the victim around for several hours in a pickup truck, Gadomski said. Greer and the victim were with another man who owned the truck but played no role in the attack, Gadomski said.

"They panicked," he said. "They had no idea what to do."

Eventually Greer dropped the victim off at Alexian Brothers Hospital in Elk Grove Village. When police spoke with Greer at the hospital, he said he didn't know who beat up the victim because they were highly intoxicated, according to a media release. Police arrested Greer after talking to witnesses and watching surveillance videos.

Greer and the victim, who is 43 years old, worked together at a tree removing company in Arlington Heights. The victim grew up in Naperville, lived in Arizona, and moved back to the area about three months ago for the job, Gadomski said.

It's unclear what he and Greer were arguing about, he said.

"From what we gathered it was work-related," he said. "At this point all we know is that they got into a fight and it wasn't good."