2 attacked with chemicals in Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake Police are investigating two cases of victims being sprayed with pepper spraylike chemicals late Sunday night.

Phillip J. King, 28, of the 1400 block of Skyridge Drive in Crystal Lake was arrested at approximately 11:30 p.m. Sunday after police say he sprayed a man in the face with an “unknown chemical agent” in the parking lot of a restaurant on the 6100 block of Northwest Highway.

The victim told police King and a second suspect approached him and asked the man if he had any “jumper cables,” before spraying him, police said.

Both suspects then took off on foot, but the victim chased King, who had sprayed him, and kept him in his sights until police arrived, according to authorities.

A second similar incident occurred about an hour earlier, when a victim was approached by a suspect while at a drive-through ATM on the 500 block of Crystal Point Drive, according to police.

The suspect told the victim, a 28-year-old male, to turn off his vehicle. The victim refused and the man struggled to cancel his ATM transaction after being sprayed in the face with what is thought to be pepper spray. The crime is being considered an attempted armed robbery, according to police.

King was charged with aggravated battery, unlawful use of a weapon and mob action in connection to the first incident.

He refused to speak with authorities after being arrested, but police said they believe the two incidents are related. King was not charged with the ATM attempted armed robbery.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Crystal Lake Police Department at (815) 356-3620.