West Dundee village manager charged after alleged battery

West Dundee Village Manager Joseph Cavallaro surrendered to police Wednesday and was charged with one count of misdemeanor battery after a local business owner complained Cavallaro poked him in the chest.

Cavallaro, who has served as village manager for more than 20 years, will appear in Elgin branch court on June 10. He faces 365 days in county jail or probation if found guilty of the misdemeanor battery charge.

Randy Errington, owner of Hammerhead's Billiards Pub at 107 W. Main St., filed the complaint with West Dundee Police on May 4 after an argument with Cavallaro inside a downtown business.

The police investigated the incident and subsequently directed Errington to the state's attorneys office, West Dundee Police Chief Andrew Wieteska said.

Prosecutors reviewed the complaint and allowed Errington to sign it on Wednesday, said Chris Nelson, a state's attorney spokesman.

Cavallaro, 46, denied that physical contact was made and described the incident as "a sprited exchange that both parties participated in."

"Mr. Errington is attempting to embarrass me and the village, as the village staff has not looked favorably on his requests for off-track betting, video poker, 3 a.m. liquor licenses, or rooftop beer gardens at his downtown location," Cavallaro said in a prepared statement. "Mr. Errington has an agenda for his business that is not consistent with West Dundee's vision for the community."

Errington, however, said that on May 4 he was circulating a petition asking that downtown business owners have input regarding a proposed sign ordinance. While he was in a store on South Second Street, Errington said, he saw Cavallaro "storming" across the street from village hall.

"I was talking to the business owner and said, 'Speak of the devil, here comes Joe now,'" Errington said. "He comes in and makes some comment and I told him he better start looking for another job. I had my back to him and he comes back screaming at me and gets an inch from my face, poking me in the chest. He was yelling at me, 'I'm gonna get you (expletive),' and "I'm gonna (expletive) with you."

Errington said he reached into his pocket and dialed 911.

Cavallaro said Errington had attended the May 3 board meeting where he threatened the village board and staff.

"This was an extension of that discussion and was a regrettable incident, and one I apologize to the community for the unflattering press," Cavallaro said in the statement. "But one man's 'battery' is another man's 'heated exchange.'"