Cook County Cop Arrested For Punching Woman At Bar
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Cook County Sheriff's correctional officer was arrested early Friday for allegedly punching a woman at a bar on the Southwest Side.
Chicago police said the incident happened at about 1 a.m. Friday at Cha Cha's at 3900 S. Western Av.
Joseph Ranzino, 49, of northwest suburban Marengo, allegedly walked up to a 43-year-old woman sitting on a barstool and "decked her," police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez said.
A man sitting next to her then punched Ranzino in the nose, Perez said.
Ranzino, a Cook County Sheriff's deputy, was charged with misdemeanor battery.
The woman suffered a cut above her eye and was taken to Holy Cross hospital.
Ranzino, who may have been drinking during the incident, was taken to Mercy Hospital and Medical Center to be checked, Perez said. He suffered noticeable injuries in the incident and reported several personal items in his possession at the time of the incident were missing by the time he was taken out of the business.
He has worked in the sheriff's electronic monitoring department since 1995, according to department spokesman Steve Patterson. The sheriff's independent Office of Professional Review is investigating.
Ranzino has been de-deputized, relieved of his badge and credentials, and assigned to administrative duties, pending the outcome of the criminal case and an internal investigation.
Ranzino was released on a personal recognizance bond and is scheduled to appear in Misdemeanor Court (Br. 34) on Jan. 14, Perez said.
(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS Radio and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.)
