Elmhurst Man Attacks Lyft Driver: Cops

ELMHURST, IL – An Elmhurst man attacked a Lyft driver during an argument over the weekend, police said.

Joseph Cascella, 26, who lives in the 600 block of Crockett Avenue, was arrested on a charge of battery. He was released on bond.

About 2 a.m. Saturday, the Lyft driver got into a dispute with passengers, including Cascella, and asked them to leave his car, according to a police report The driver told police that Cascella punched him in the back of the head.

Over the last couple of years, Elmhurst police have arrested Cascella a number of times.

In July, Cascella was taken to the DuPage County Jail after he was found in violation of a bail bond order from a previous domestic violence incident.

In April, he was arrested after he struck a person in the mouth at his house in the 600 block of West Crockett Avenue.

He has been arrested at least three other times in Elmhurst since early 2020:

• In November, Cascella was charged with criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct for an incident that occurred at his house. According to a police report, Cascella threw an item, causing it to break to pieces. He was released on bond.
• In March 2020, Cascella was charged with aggravated battery in connection with spitting in an officer's face as he was being escorted into a squad car, Elmhurst police said. Officers responded to a report of a domestic incident. They found Cascella in the house and arrested him on a charge of violating his bail by returning to the house after a previous domestic battery, according to a police report. He was taken to the DuPage County Jail.
• Cascella was arrested Feb. 6, 2020, on two counts of domestic battery. According to a police report, Cascella had been drinking alcohol, pushed the victim, grabbed his arm and knocked the hat off of his head. Cascella was taken to jail.