Authorities: Father and son beat up private investigator while he was working

A man and his adult son face felony charges after they beat a private investigator while he was conducting surveillance in his car on an Antioch Township street, Lake County sheriff's police said in a news release Thursday.

Steven T. Wright, 62, and Russell S. Wright, 23, both of the 24700 block of West Nicklaus Way in Antioch Township, are charged with robbery, aggravated battery and criminal damage to property in the Wednesday attack on the 51-year-old Island Lake man. There is no known connection between the Wrights and the victim, and the victim was not conducting surveillance on them, authorities said in the release.

The victim was taken to the hospital with multiple broken bones and is in stable condition, according to the release.

He was parked near Nicklaus Way and Harbor Ridge Drive and had called the sheriff's office to advise authorities he would be in the area, according to the release.

The Wrights used a vehicle to block in the victim's car so he could not leave, authoriteis said. The father and son then forced open the car door and slapped a video camera from the victim's hands, according to authorities.

Russell and Steven Wright began beating the victim, who was able to dial 911 before one of the men took the cellphone and smashed it on the ground. The 911 call still went thorough, and authorities were able to determine there was a problem, and dispatched sheriff's deputies. The Wrights were at the scene when deputies arrived, officials said.

Steven and Russell Wright had an initial court hearing Thursday morning. Eafch is being held in the Lake County jail on $40,000 bail. They must each post $4,000 bond to be release from custody pending trial. Russell Wright is next due in court Tuesday, while Steven Wright has a Wednesday court date.