Man Accused In Home Invasion Punches Police Dog: Authorities

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A 34-year-old Georgia man is in custody for forcing his way into a woman's home and beating her before fleeing her residence near Gurnee, authorities said Monday.

Authorities say Joshua Simmons, 34, of the 800 block of Woodvale Drive in Dublin, Georgia, is a former acquaintance of the woman he attacked Sunday night.

The 36-year-old woman was on a FaceTime call at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday when Simmons is accused of breaking into her home in the 36200 block of North Old Creek Court in unincorporated Gurnee, according to a news release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The person the woman was video-chatting with told police their call disconnected after a man appeared in the video behind the woman and she screamed, according to the news release. He called to report the incident to the Lake County Sheriff's Office and deputies responded to the home and found the woman, who'd been beaten.

She told authorities Simmons took her phone and hit her in the face and neck. When deputies arrived, he fled on foot.

Authorities found Simmons car parked about a block from the woman's home, and K9 Dax respond to try and track Simmons down. After a one mile track, K9 Dax found Simmons hiding in a three seasons room of a different home, according to the news release.

He refused to surrender and K9 Dax was deployed. The police dog bit Simmons on the arm and Simmons hit K9 Dax. Simmons then surrendered to police, and he was treated and released back into the custody of sheriff's office deputies.

Simmons has been charged with home invasion, a Class X felony; two counts of domestic battery, which are Class 4 felonies; criminal trespassing to a residence, a Class 4 felony; striking a police K9, a Class A misdemeanor; and resisting arrest, which is a Class A misdemeanor.

“Fortunately, the victim was on a telephone call when this incident occurred, and her friend was able to call 911. If it were not for the quick thinking of the victim’s friend, this situation could have ended much differently," said Lake County Sheriff John D. Idleburg. "I am proud of the work of our Patrol Division and Sheriff’s K9 Team who worked quickly to locate and apprehend this violent offender.”