2 arrested in Winthrop Harbor pistol-whipping

Two men have been arrested after they struck a man on the head with the butt of a loaded gun at a Winthrop Harbor hotel, police said Monday.

William Bady, 26, of Waukegan and John Holland, 32, of Beach Park drove to a hotel on the 1000 block of Sheridan Road on Saturday and beat the victim after threatening him with a loaded gun, police said. The victim suffered a gash to his right eye and two gashes to the back of his head, police said.

Police said the attack was sparked by a Saturday evening phone call the victim made to his girlfriend at Bady's house. Bady grabbed the phone and argued with the victim, Detective Chris Willets said. Bady then grabbed his loaded gun, put it in his waistband and he and Holland drove to the victim's residence, Willets said.

Bady put a loaded HI Point .380 semiautomatic pistol to the victim's head, struck him multiple times and knocked him to the ground, Willets said.

Police responded to the scene at approximately 6:45 p.m. after receiving a 911 call from someone who saw Bady with the gun in the parking lot.

Both suspects had fled, but the victim provided police with a vehicle description and license plate number. A short time later, police stopped the car that Holland was driving.

Police said Holland had agreed to take Bady's gun to his residence, and the loaded weapon was found on the front passenger seat.

Both suspects gave full confessions to the crime, Willets said.

Bady was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm with use of deadly force, armed violence and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Holland was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and driving without a valid license, police said.

Bond was set at $250,000 for Bady and $100,000 for Holland, police said.