Man Who Beat Mark Tomac Tried To Run Over Dog in Crest Hill: PD

JOLIET, IL — Jerry Leon Patton, who was finally taken into custody Dec. 30 in connection with allegations he severely beat Mark Tomac at Bobby's Tap after beating another man last July in City Tavern, now faces four new charges from Crest Hill's Police Department.

Crest Hill police say Patton tried to run over another person with his vehicle on Oct. 29 and that Patton's car hit a dog while driving over the lawns of people who reside along Rosel Court.

The criminal complaint does not indicate the dog died, and Patton is not facing any animal cruelty charges. The four new charges for the 36-year-old Patton were filed Friday, while Patton remains in custody at the Will County Jail, already facing a $100,000 bail, jail logs show. The new charges are criminal damage to property, aggravated assault, reckless driving and battery.

According to the latest complaint —Patton's third open felony case at the Will County Courthouse —Patton came into contact with his victim and knowingly damaged his victim's automobile, a Chevrolet Blazer, on Oct. 29 in Crest Hill.

The damage was between $500 and $10,000, court records show. The aggravated assault charge states that Patton drove his gray Hyundai sedan toward the victim, putting the man in reasonable apprehension of being struck by the moving vehicle.

The reckless driving charge states that Patton drove his Hyundai sedan with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others, driving the sedan across residential lawns, striking a dog, on Rosel Court in Crest Hill.

The four new charges carry an additional bail of $50,000 for Patton.

On Dec. 19, Joliet Patch published an article headlined, "My Life Changed In 30 Seconds': Tattoo Artist Attacked In Joliet Bar."

Joliet Patch reported that on Nov. 12 inside Bobby's Tap located on Joliet's Plainfield Road, Mark Tomac suffered serious injuries to his eye and facial bones after Joliet police said he was attacked and punched in the head by Jerry Patton, who was recently released from jail.

A fundraising effort to assist the popular Joliet tattoo artist has provided some assistance with his medical bills, but organizers of the GoFundMe effort have said more help is needed as he faces a long road to recovery.

Tomac sustained a fractured orbital as well as severe damage to his retina and corneal abrasions. According to court records, Patton had been released from the Will County Jail six weeks before and had been previously arrested in connection with another bar fight.

The GoFundMe effort has now raised $9,286 of the $25,000 goal to assist Tomac, who was rushed to St. Joe's hospital following the attack. He was then transferred to Stroger Hospital in Chicago due to the severity of his injuries, according to Erik Schelling, who is one of three people organizing the fundraising effort.

Patton is listed on the arrest warrant as being 6-foot-5 and weighing 240 lbs.

As for Patton, he has been represented by private defense counsel, retaining the services of downtown Joliet lawyer Cosmo Tedone of the Law Offices of Tedone & Morton.

Tedone told Joliet Patch on Monday that he just became aware of the new complaint from Crest Hill, so he does not have any of the police reports or details about the incident.

Tedone did say that Patton is accused of breaking the jaws of the two men involved in the separate Joliet bar fight cases from last July and November.

With the four new charges carrying a $50,000 bail, Patton's new total bail should be $150,000, according to Tedone.