Man Disarms Cop At Woodridge Target: Police

WOODRIDGE, IL – A man was arrested Wednesday after he tried to disarm an officer at the Target store in Woodridge, police said.

John Crowder, 29, of Woodridge, is being held on a $250,000 bond.

Officers were called to the Target about a retail theft in progress. One of the officers saw Crowder placing two air mattresses valued at $340 into the trunk of his car, according to a news release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.

The officer spoke with Crowder, who kicked the officer's leg out from under him, causing him to fall, prosecutors said.

While lying on his back, the officer pulled out his taser, police said. Crowder grabbed it out of the officer's hand and threw it across the parking lot, according to the news release.

Crowder walked away as the officer ordered him to stop. Crowder refused and entered his car, police said.

Crowder then resisted other officers, who tried to handcuff him, but he was taken into custody after a brief struggle, the release said.

"Day in and day out, our officers quietly do their jobs protecting the residents and businesses of DuPage County," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. "This incident is yet another example of their professionalism and dedication to public safety. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured."

Crowder was charged with the felonies of disarming a police officer, aggravated battery to a police officer, retail theft, resisting a police officer causing injury and criminal damage to government-supported property.