Bail Increased For Accused 'Headbutter' At Bush Concert

TINLEY PARK, IL — Bail was increased for a man accused of headbutting police officers during a Bush concert at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Tinley Park. Rory Helgoth, 29, of Merrillville, Ind., appeared before Cook County Judge John Mahoney on three felony charges of aggravated battery to a police officer. Helgoth is also charged with criminal damage to property.

The prosecutor said that a private security officer asked Helgoth to show his tickets Sept. 6 at the Bush concert to make sure Helgoth was in the right section. Helgoth allegedly slapped the security officer with his wallet. He was taken to the office. While Helgoth was being questioned in the office, where the prosecutor said Helgoth headbutted a security officer in the face.

Tinley Park police arrived and placed Helgoth under arrest. The prosecutor said Helgoth was handcuffed and refused to get into the patrol car, when he headbutted a police officer. Helgoth is also accused of denting the side of the patrol car.

Helgoth appeared Sept. 7 for a bond hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building, where bail was set at $10,000. The assistant public defender told the judge that Helgoth did not evade his scheduled court appearance in Bridgeview.

“He hasn’t picked up any new cases since his arrest,” the assistant public defender said.

“We can’t have people fighting police at concerts, venues or in the streets,” Mahoney said.

The judge increased Helgoth’s bail to $250,000. Helgoth is due back in court Oct. 4.

On the way out of the courtroom, Helgoth shouted, “the cop got hit in shoulder, dude, not in the head.”