Elgin man charged with hitting teenager on bike with car

Police say an Elgin man used his Chevrolet Impala as a weapon when he swerved it into a teenager riding his bike through downtown Elgin.

Robert A. Groves, 20, of the 100 block of Villa Street, is charged with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony that carries up to five years in prison.

Groves, who police said believed the bicyclist had beaten up his sister, was unable to post the $1,500 bond set for him Thursday morning and was taken to the Kane County jail.

Court documents said the Impala was one of two vehicles chasing the 15-year-old boy riding his bike Wednesday night at 10:21 p.m., north on Center Street, then west onto Dexter Avenue. Police had no information on the second vehicle.

During the chase, Groves swerved his car toward the teenager, knocking him off the bike with the car's front passenger side, police said.

The boy sustained cuts and scrapes to his left forearm and complained about pain in his left thigh and waist, but documents didn't say whether he needed medical attention.

Grove told police he had not meant to hit the teenager and only wanted to cut him off, but also said that once he and other family members caught the teen, they were going to beat him up.

Groves' next court appearance is June 3 at the Kane County Judicial Center.