2 Palatine men charged with battery after car accident

Two Palatine men appeared in Cook County court Saturday on charges of felony aggravated battery and disorderly conduct after allegedly hurting another man with a knife following a car accident in their apartment building parking lot.

A car driven by Jose Hernandez, 24, of 1311 Ports of Call in Palatine, was hit Tuesday by another resident and an argument began. Jose F. Cortez-Santiago, 24, of 1323 N. Ports of Call, a passenger in Hernandez' car, got out and allegedly waved a knife at the victim and cut his hand, said Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Lesley Gool.

The next day, the men allegedly followed the victim on Dundee Road in a way that "disturbed him" and made him feel "in fear of his safety," said Gool.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Howard Fink set bond for each man at $50,000 for the felony aggravated battery charges stemming from the accident on Tuesday.

In addition, Fink set a $1,000 bond for Cortez-Santiago and $2,000 bond for Hernandez stemming from the Wednesday incident.

Hernandez, a construction worker, and Cortez-Santiago, a temp worker, are not U.S. citizens and could face deportation if found guilty, Fink said during the bond court hearing.

The men were ordered to appear in court on Feb. 18 at Rolling Meadows courthouse.