Palatine man charged with running down police officer in Prospect Heights

A 22-year-old Palatine man faces multiple felony charges stemming from allegations he ran down a Prospect Heights police officer and a second person while fleeing the scene of a bar brawl early Sunday morning.

Gorge Alberto is charged with two counts of aggravated battery and single counts of aggravated DUI and failure to remain at the scene of a personal injury accident, police announced Monday.

The incident occurred after a fight broke out at about 4 a.m. Sunday involving multiple patrons of the bar in the 1200 block of Rand Road, authorities said. The police officer and a bar employee were outside the establishment trying to break up the fight when, the charges allege, Alberto struck them with a vehicle as he fled the area.

A man since identified as Alberto was arrested a short time later after a matching vehicle was spotted driving along Rand Road in Palatine, police said.

The officer and bar employee both were taken to a hospital for treatment, but have since been released, according to police.

Alberto was scheduled to appear in court Monday, but police did not know whether he had been ordered detained while his case is pending.