Round Lake Park Cop Beat 5-Year-Old With Paddle, Placed On Leave

ANTIOCH, IL — A Round Lake Park police officer has been placed on administrative leave and faces domestic battery charges amid accusations he struck his girlfriend's 5-year-old daughter with a paddle. The Lake County Sheriff's Office said deputies were dispatched at 11:45 a.m. Friday to meet an agent from the Department of Children and Family Services who was investigating an incident involving a 5-year-old girl and a police officer with the Village of Round Lake Park.

According to the sheriff's office, a mandated reporter claimed the young girl may have been battered by her mother's boyfriend. The sheriff's office said the investigation revealed 55-year-old Waymon G. Vela, of the 21600 block of West Grass Lake Road, unincorporated Antioch, hit his girlfriend's daughter several times on the lower back with a paddle, causing injuries to the girl.

According to the sheriff's office, the child was taken to a local hospital for medical treatment and evaluation.

Officials said Vela was arrested at 9 a.m. Saturday, and the Lake County State's Attorney's Office approved one county of domestic battery against Vela, who is being held in the Lake County Jail on $10,000 bail.

Vela was immediately placed on unpaid administrative leave, stripped of his police powers and an internal investigation has been opened, Round Lake Park Police Department Chief George Filenko told Patch in an email.

The Round Lake Park Police Officer's next court date is set for April 10, the sheriff's office said, adding that Round Lake Park Police Officials cooperated throughout the investigation and arrest.