N. Chicago man charged with battery at Beach Park motel

A North Chicago man has been charged after a disturbance at a Beach Park motel.

Alkfe Patterson is charged with felony unlawful restraint, two counts of battery, felony criminal trespass to residence and felony criminal damage to property, according to a statement from the Lake County sheriff's office.

About 1:20 a.m. last Friday, sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the American Inn Motel on the 39000 block of North Sheridan Road for an initial report of a man with a gun. No gun was found.

The first deputy to arrive heard people screaming and saw the metal door leading to the motel office had been forced open.

Patterson had been talking with the motel owner's wife at the customer service counter when she began to fear for her safety, the sheriff's office said. She retreated to a room at the motel, and Patterson broke down the door and attacked her, authorities said.

Patterson, who is being held on $50,000 bond, was at the hotel earlier in the evening visiting a guest in another room.