2 Arrests At Ravinia Santana Concert, 2 Different Outcomes

(Editor's note: One incident has been removed from this article because the individual involved provided Patch paperwork showing the record had been expunged.)

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Two men who were arrested at the Santana concert at Ravinia Festival earlier this month in separate incidents face vastly different consequences in the criminal justice system, according to police reports. One man was issued a local ordinance citation in connection with allegations he struck a woman and kicked rocks at a group of friends as they waited in line after the show. The two men are presumed innocent unless one or both are eventually found guilty by a court.

The other man arrested at Ravinia later that night faces a significantly lighter penalty, if found guilty.

Luke E. Self, 42, of the 2200 block of Flagstone Lane in Carpentersville, was arrested after allegedly attacking women who were waiting in front of him in line. According to police reports, officers were dispatched to the area where buses pick up and drop off passengers shortly after 11 p.m. for a report that Self had hit a woman who was waiting in line in front of him.

Self and a female companion were allegedly behind a group of four women in a line that was not moving. One of the four women pulled out a chair and had a seat, members of the group told police. In response, Self, who was in front of them when the line started to move, turned around toward one of the woman, hit her in the face with an open hand and shouted, "Let's Go!"

The woman told police she and her friends were in shock, at first. According to police reports, witnesses said Self then began to kick rocks and dirt back at the group with "a rear kicking motion similar to what a dog would do" and yelling "[Expletive] you!" at the friends, who soon contacted security to explain what had happened. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Highland Park — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Police said Self smelled strongly of alcohol and seemed to be slurring his words. After the woman who said Self hit her was taken to the Highland Park Police Department to compose statements along with her three friends, she confirmed that Self slapped her on the left side of her face. She told police that after security got involved, Self accused her and her friends of attempting to steal his wallet while in line, according to the report of the incident.

Self signed off on speaking to cops without a lawyer and admitted to getting into an argument with the women "because they were being too loud," the report said. He alleged that one of the group had been trying to unzip his cargo pocket to remove his wallet. The officer taking the report noted that when he was put under arrest, Self's wallet was found in his back pocket, not his cargo pocket. He asserted he never hit anyone, did not kick any rocks or dirt at the group and, while he doesn't remember who started the confrontation, he did have some "choice words."

Self has not responded to a query about the incident.

According to police and Lake County court records, Self was cited for battery under a local ordinance citation, rather than a criminal misdemeanor charge. His court date was set for Sept. 27 and he faces a maximum penalty of a $500 fine, according to the section of the Highland Park code under which he was charged.

According to Highland Park police, prosecutors could still chose to upgrade the offense from an ordinance violation to a criminal one.

_{Top photo: Aug. 12 Ravinia arrestee Luke E. Self booking photograph | Highland Park PD}