Political Adviser Accused Of Pushing Wife In Front Of Police

Updated July 16, 2021

Appeals Court Overturns Political Adviser's Domestic Battery Case: The Appellate Court of Illinois ruled in favor of Jeffrey Ward, of Geneva, and reversed a 2018 conviction for a "shove" his wife said never happened.

original report; published June 8, 2018

GENEVA, IL – A local political campaign adviser faces a domestic battery charge after allegedly pushing his wife in front of Geneva Police Department officers in recent week, the Kane County Chronicle reports. But Jeffrey N. Ward, 59, 100 block of Abbey Lane in Geneva, says the allegations and events during the June 1 incident did not occur as police described and claims local police are retaliating after he was found not guilty of a 2017 disorderly conduct, according to the article.

According to police, they were investigating a crash involving Jeffrey's son, Matthew, in the area of 2700 Keslinger Road in Geneva, at 6:42 p.m. when Jeffrey and his wife showed up at the scene. The Kane County Chronicle reports Jeffrey became confrontational with police and yelled at officers at the scene. Police told Ward he needed to stop obstructing officers and was not involved since his son is an adult.

When one of the officers asked Ward's wife how old her son was, Jeffrey allegedly pushed her forcefully, causing her to lose her balance and take a couple steps back, the Kane County Chronicle reports.

Ward recounts the situation differently:

"There was no domestic battery," Jeffrey Ward told the Kane County Chronicle "[Get] my wife's statement [which was] taken on the scene. She describes in it the context of ongoing harassment by Geneva police. … This is another false and malicious charge that will completely fall apart in a court of law. We have filed a speedy trial motion today and I look forward to my day in court. … My wife fully supports me and will be testifying for me – not Geneva police – and she did not and would not sign the complaint."

Ward has served as a political adviser for Ron Hain's run for Kane County Sheriff. He said he will be taking a break from work with the campaign during this November's election, according to the Kane County Chronicle.

More via the Kane County Chronicle

Photo via the Geneva Police Department