Man arrested after photographing boy in Schaumburg restroom

Schaumburg police have charged a 26-year-old DeKalb man following his alleged cornering and photographing of a 10-year-old boy in a restaurant washroom.

Cortez Alexander Lewis of 914 Ridge in DeKalb, was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and criminal damage to property at around 6:45 p.m. last Thursday.

Officers were called to a restaurant on the 600 block of North Martingale Road where Lewis is accused of cornering a boy in a restroom, convincing him to sit on the floor with his legs spread and then photographing him with a disposable camera, police said.

According to reports, Lewis had followed the boy into the restroom and then to a lower level where he tried to take more photos. But the boy got help from a friend there and they went to tell the boy's mother.

Police Sgt. John Nebl said Lewis was a complete stranger to the boy, not known to anyone in the group the boy arrived with. But there was no issue of negligence on anyone else's part causing the situation, Nebl said.

"The boy didn't have his clothes off or anything like that, but it was beyond what would be considered normal and rational," Nebl said.

Lewis had reportedly left the restaurant before police arrived, but the boy's mother described him and officers found him walking at the intersection of Martingale Road and Kimberly Drive, reports said.

During his arrest, Lewis reportedly braced his legs against the squad car to prevent officers from placing him in the car, scratching the vehicle in the struggle.

Lewis' next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 8 at the Cook County Courthouse in Rolling Meadows.