Retired Chicago Cop Charged With Threatening Coroner, Investigators In Fox Lake Cop Shooting Case
(CBS) -- A retired Chicago police officer and Oak Lawn resident has been charged with making threatening phone calls to officials investigating the death of Fox Lake Lieutenant Joseph Gliniewicz, according to the Lake County Sheriff.
Police say Joseph Battaglia, 54, identified himself as a retired officer and threatened to harm investigators involved, including officials with the Lake County Coroner, unless Gliniewicz' death was declared a suicide. Battaglia has not had any involvement with the Fox Lake investigation.
Battaglia was arrested at his home in Oak Lawn and charged with two counts of Disorderly Conduct, which are Class 4 Felonies. He is being held in Lake County Jail on $100,000 bond and is expected to appear in court on Sept. 15. The Lake County Sheriff's office says additional charges are possible as they continue to investigate Battaglia's phone calls.
Gliniewicz was shot and killed Sept. 1, after radioing that he was investigating suspicious activity, and had begun chasing three suspects. A few minutes after other officers arrived on the scene to back him up, they found Gliniewicz's body in a marshy area near U.S. Route 12 and Sayton Road.