Palatine man charged with murder after punch victim dies
A Palatine man accused of throwing a punch that fatally injured a 26-year-old man during an altercation outside a bar is in custody on a newly filed charge of first-degree murder, police said this afternoon.
Michael Platt, 35, previously faced a charge of aggravated battery stemming from allegations he struck Ryan Flannigan, also of Palatine, on July 18 in the village's downtown area.
Flannigan, who never regained consciousness, died from his injuries Monday afternoon.
Less than 24 hours later, Cook County prosecutors upgraded the charge against Platt to first-degree murder with a $2 million bond. Minutes after the new arrest warrant was issued, Palatine police arrested Platt at his girlfriend's house, authorities said.
Authorities say Flannigan was punched about 11:30 p.m. on the 0-100 block of North Bothwell Street, then fell back and struck his head on the sidewalk. An autopsy took place Tuesday, but details of its results were not immediately available.
Police on Tuesday offered more details of the July 18 altercation. According to multiple witnesses, the men were in separate groups that came together outside the bar that night and began arguing, said police Cmdr. Michael Seebacher.
According to police, Platt stepped forward and punched Flannigan once on the side of the head, causing the 26-year-old to fall onto the sidewalk. Witnesses described the punch as being unprovoked, and there were no other punches thrown, Seebacher said.
“This is a tragedy from a senseless act of violence,” he said.
Police called to the scene found Flannigan unconscious and bleeding from the head. Officers arrested Platt a short time later at another nearby bar.
Platt had been free after posting 10 percent of a $75,000 bail. Before Flannigan's death, he was expected back in court Aug. 14, at the Cook County circuit court branch in Rolling Meadows.