ISLAND LAKE, Ill. – An Island Lake man was arrested for fleeing from a hospital after being charged with aggravated domestic battery. The man, identified as Jaime C. Romero, 51, was apprehended by Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Dax, who tracked him down after he fled from Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital during treatment.
Earlier on the same day, Romero had been arrested by a local police department for strangling and battering his girlfriend. He also had an active arrest warrant from Kane County. Upon being transported to the hospital for treatment, Romero fled on foot, prompting a response from the sheriff’s office and K9 Dax.
K9 Dax and Deputy Forlenza located Romero in the parking lot of an orthopedic doctor’s office, where he had set off a burglar alarm. Despite several warnings to surrender, Romero refused, and K9 Dax ended up biting him on the leg. In response, Romero punched K9 Dax, but the canine was unfazed and Romero was subsequently taken into custody.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office approved multiple charges against Romero, including two counts of Aggravated Domestic Battery, Striking a Police Animal, Resisting Arrest, and Criminal Trespass to a Building. Additionally, K9 Dax was evaluated by a veterinarian and cleared to return to service after being struck by Romero.
Sheriff John D. Idleburg expressed pride in his staff for taking the violent, fleeing offender into custody, while Romero was ordered held pending a detention hearing on January 2, 2023.
As of now, all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.