Island Lake trustee charged with hitting rival's wife
An Island Lake village trustee faces battery charges for hitting the wife of a trustee candidate during a heated election meeting at village hall late Tuesday, police confirmed.
Trustee Rich Garling was arrested by village police after resident Gina Meeks complained Garling struck her in the back after she called him "stupid," Police Chief Tony Sciarrone said Wednesday morning.
The attack took place at about 8:10 p.m., Sciarrone said, immediately after an election board hearing at the Island Lake village hall.
Garling was arrested outside the village hall at 8:34 p.m., he said.
Garling refused to comment when contacted about the allegations at noon Wednesday.
Garling posted $100 bond after being processed by police and was released late Tuesday night, Sciarrone said.
According to witness Laura Rabattini, Gina Meeks was at Tuesday's meeting in support of her husband, David, who was seeking election to one of three open 4-year trustee seats in the April 7 municipal election.
Rabattini also is on the ballot and planned to oppose Meeks in the upcoming election.
Meeks' nomination petitions were challenged by Garling in the week before Tuesday's meeting, Rabattini said, and the election board had just ruled that Meeks' name should be removed for not filing the proper paperwork.
As Garling was exiting the room, he crossed behind Gina Meeks, Rabattini said, and Gina Meeks said, "Nice job, stupid," to Garling.
That's when police say Garling hit Gina Meeks.
Rabattini said David Meeks immediately went to the police station - housed in the same building - while Garling headed to his car to leave.
Officers blocked Garling's car from leaving the lot, brought him inside and charged him with battery, Sciarrone said.
Sciarrone added the department has witness statements from three people claiming the incident took place.
Garling is best known for an unsuccessful bid to unseat long-term Illinois House Rep. Mark Beaubien in the general election last fall. He is not on the ballot in the upcoming election and has two years remaining on his trustee term.
Charged: Three witnesses say they saw incident