Teacher Spits In Man's Face, Claims To Have Coronavirus: Cops

METTAWA, IL — A Highland Park woman accused spitting in the face of a customer at a Costco last month after claiming she had contracted the coronavirus was arrested Wednesday, authorities said.

Elizabeth Mach, 45, of the 500 block of Vine Avenue, Highland Park, faces battery and disorderly conduct charges in connection with a June 16 incident that took place near the exit to the store at 25901 Riverwoods Road in Mettawa, according to a spokesperson for the Lake County Sheriff's Office, which handles law enforcement responsibilities for the village.

After a 50-year-old man completed checking out with his purchase and removed his mask as he exited the store with his wife, deputies determined Mach intercepted him and rammed her shopping cart into his, according to Sgt. Chris Covelli.

Mach started yelling at the man, telling him he needed to put his mask back on because he was not outside the building yet, according to the sheriff's spokesperson. When he did not respond, she continued to berate him.

"I am a schoolteacher and I have COVID-19," Mach shouted, before taking off her face covering and spitting into the man's face, according to the sheriff's office.

Mach got into her car and fled post-expectoration, but the encounter was captured on video by security cameras, Covelli said.

Those images, along with witness identification, allowed deputies to track Mach down and get a warrant for her arrest Monday, he said. The sheriff's office is not releasing the images publicly because they have been submitted into evidence.

Mach, who faces two counts of misdemeanor battery and one count of disorderly conduct, posted the $4,000 cash portion of her bond Monday evening.

No attorney information was available for Mach, and calls and emails seeking comment were not returned Thursday.

According to Chicago Public Schools records, Mach is a special education teacher at Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood, earning a salary and benefits worth nearly $100,000 last year.

Principal Andrew Friesma described the allegations against Mach as "behavior that does not align with CPS values" in a letter sent to parents Friday morning.

"We are aware of this situation, and the district is investigating the incident," said Friesma, adding that he was "unable to discuss details regarding the investigation due to privacy concerns."

Although most CPS teachers are required to live in Chicago, internal investigations have found indications of rampant residency fraud in the district. A CPS spokesperson declined to say whether Mach has received a waiver to live outside of the city.

However, a source tells Patch she never had a residency waiver, listing a Chicago address as her home in district paperwork. The matter has been referred to the inspector general's office, according to the source.