Women Held Under Water In Pond At Skokie Mall: Police

SKOKIE, IL —A woman was attacked and held underwater in a pond at Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie on Tuesday morning, according to police.

Skokie police responded to a report that a man was holding a woman's head underwater in a pond at Old Orchard Mall. At the scene, witnesses told officers that the man struck the woman with a saddle-type bag unprovoked before pushing her into a pond.

Officers identified the man as William Dobbs, 35, of Skokie, and they arrested him at the scene.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office reviewed the incident and approved three felony charges against Dobbs: one count of attempted murder, one count of aggravated battery to a senior citizen and one count of aggravated battery with great bodily harm.

Police asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the Skokie Police Department at 847-982-5900.