Four arrested, one hurt in Elgin bar brawl

An early Thursday morning brawl at a new downtown Elgin bar sent four to jail and one to the hospital.

According to police, Tyler C. Gustafson, 25, and his friends were asked to leave Roadhouse, on the 100 block of East Prairie Street, at 1:40 a.m. because Gustafson kept ignoring the staff's repeated requests to stop turning his hat to the right.

"At times it can be construed as a gang sign, but with this group of people I can't say," Elgin Police Lt. Sean Rafferty said. "Sometimes it's a fashion statement. Other times it's something related to a gang."

Security said the group could stay until after they finished their drinks, police said. At that point, the group began arguing with security guards, with Gustafson flashing gang signs, then threatening to come back and shoot up the bar, Rafferty said.

Gustafson punched and kicked an employee, with three others from his group joining in the attack on a pair of other staff members, reports said.

Charged with aggravated battery were Elgin residents Gustafson, of the 600 block of Ludlow Avenue, Henry R. Santana-Torres, 30, and his younger brother Harry, 29, both of the 400 block of South Edison Street, and their roommate, Fernando Pou-Torres, 27. One bar employee was treated for his injuries at Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin, Rafferty said.

During a bond hearing Friday morning, Gustafson, the Santana-Torres brothers and Pou-Torres denied they were gang members.

"I don't know why we got arrested," Henry Santana-Torres said.

Kane County Judge Bruce W. Lester set Harry Santana-Torres' bond at $50,000; Gustafson's at $20,000; Pou-Torres' at $17,000 and Henry Santana-Torres' at $15,000.

Gustafson was released from jail on bond later Thursday.

Pou-Torres and both Santana-Torres brothers remained in custody at the Kane County jail.

All four are due back in court Thursday at the Kane County Judicial Center. If found guilty of the more serious charge, the Santana-Torres brothers, Gustafson and Pou-Torres would face between two and 10 years in prison.