Des Plaines officer suspended after domestic battery charge

A longtime Des Plaines police officer has been suspended from duty with pay after being arrested over the weekend in Huntley on a domestic battery charge.

Matthew R. Hicks, 45, of the 11000 block of Cape Cod, was arrested at around 1 a.m. Sunday at his home.

Hicks and his wife were returning from an evening out and got into a verbal argument on the way home in the car, police said.

The fight escalated when they got home. Hicks struck his wife on the head with his fist, pulled her hair, and prevented her from calling police by taking the phone away, Huntley Police Chief John Perkins said.

The woman ran out of the house and up to a police squad car that was in the neighborhood on another call and asked the officer for help, Perkins said.

"She had visible injuries when we arrived," Perkins said.

Though the woman was bleeding, she was not taken to the hospital, he said.

Perkins said police have been called to the Hicks' residence on two other occasions for domestic issues. No charges were filed at the time.

Police immediately took Hicks into custody and charged him with domestic battery and unlawful interference with reporting domestic violence - Class A misdemeanors carrying a maximum punishment of up to a year in jail with up to two years probation, and a $2,500 fine.

"At this point these are mere allegations and we intend to defend (Hicks) aggressively," Hicks' defense attorney Margi Worth said.

Hicks was transferred to the McHenry County jail, where he remained until appearing in bond court Monday morning. Bond was set at $2,500, of which he posted 10 percent and was released later that day. His next court day is May 5 before McHenry County Judge Gordon Graham.

Hicks has been ordered to stay away from his wife for a minimum of 72 hours.

Hicks' case was up in court Wednesday morning on a defense motion to modify a standard court order requiring that he turn over any firearms in his possession while the case is pending. Hicks was not in court.

Hicks was ordered to turn over his police-issued service handgun to the Des Plaines Police Department instead of Huntley, which he has done, Des Plaines Police Chief Jim Prandini said.

Hicks also has relinquished his badge and identification, while Des Plaines police officials conduct their own internal investigation on the sergeant who has about 18 years with the department.

"He has been put on paid administrative leave for now," Prandini said. "He no longer has police powers during the course of this investigation."

Hicks' case will be presented before the Des Plaines Police and Fire Commission.

"Based on the severity of this incident, I'm looking to bring it to them sooner rather than later," Prandini said. "It is extremely disappointing that any police officer would put himself in this kind of situation.

"We just want the citizens of Des Plaines to understand that we want a professional organization, and we will try to resolve this as quickly as possible. We're extremely disappointed in these actions."

• Daily Herald Staff Writer Jameel Naqvi contributed to this report.