Son Accused of Taping Elderly Dad's Mouth Shut and Poking Him with Scissors

Brian O'Connor, 42 | Cook County Sheriff

Oak Lawn, IL, May 10, 2016 -- An Oak Lawn man is accused of taping his 76-year-old father’s mouth shut and poking him with scissors during a domestic altercation, prosecutors said Tuesday in court.

Brian O’Connor, 42, appeared before Cook County Peter Felice on charges of attempted armed robbery and aggravated battery of a person over 60.

O’Connor and his father got into an argument around 1 p.m. May 8 during which O’Connor struck his father, causing him to bleed, the prosecutor said.

According to the charges, the elderly man was lying down when he woke up to find his son standing over him holding a pair of scissors against his throat. O’Connor taped his father’s mouth shut with blue masking tape and tried to tape his father’s legs together as well.

O’Connor allegedly poked his father with the scissors as he threatened to “cut you up into pieces and throw the rest of you in Marquette Park Lagoon.” His father suffered stab wounds in the arm and ribs.

The prosecutor said O’Connor then demanded that his father drive him to an ATM and withdraw $400. On their way to the car, the elderly man was able to get in and lock himself inside from his son.

O’Connor jumped on the hood of the vehicle as it was moving, the prosecutor said. A police officer passing by saw what was happening and stopped to help the elderly man.

The assistant public defender told the judge that O’Connor is collecting disability due to a brain injury and takes medications for other health issues. He is also taking online classes to become a personal trainer.

Since December 2015, the prosecutor said, O’Connor has four arrests for domestic battery, including two pending cases.

“He’s out of control,” Judge Felice said.

The judge set bail at $1 million. He also ordered O’Connor to not have any contact with his elderly dad.

O’Connor is due back in court June 6 in Bridgeview.