Harper cop's condition serious after incident

A Harper College police officer is in serious condition after hitting his head during a scuffle Wednesday afternoon outside a campus building.

He was taken to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, where a hospital spokesman said he remains in the critical care unit. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office was interviewing witnesses at the Palatine school on Thursday and hadn't filed charges.

Harper spokesman Phil Burdick said the incident occurred when the officer tried to break up a crowd gathering around a female student who was reportedly dancing provocatively.

A 22-year-old male student who wouldn't produce identification shoved the officer to the ground, Burdick said, adding that the officer was alert and conscious at the time he was taken to the hospital.