Deerfield 'Marxist' Pleads Guilty To Battery Of Glencoe Officer

GLENCOE, IL — A Deerfield man pleaded guilty Thursday to attacking a police officer during his arrest over the summer in Glencoe.

Andrew Saltarelli, 42, of the 900 block of Heather Road, was initially charged with aggravated battery to an officer, a class 2 felony, and misdemeanor resisting arrest, and cited for public intoxication, according to police reports.

On the evening of Saltarelli's arrest, patrons of Valor Glencoe restaurant, 667 Vernon Ave., called 911 and told officers that he had used profane language toward them and refused to leave when they asked him to, police said.

Officers reported a restaurant representative said they did not want to press charges but asked offers to issue an order officially banning him from the premises.

Glencoe Public Safety Department Lt. Michael Talend described Saltarelli as "immediately confrontational" when the officer first encountered him on the sidewalk outside the restaurant.

Talend reported that Saltarelli began walking toward him aggressively so that he had to push him back with an open hand and tell him to remain an arm's distance away.

"Saltarelli said he believes in 'Marxism' and there wasn't 's--- I could do to him,'" Talend said. "Saltarelli asked if there were any clubs to dance at in the area. Saltarelli refused to say how he got to Glencoe and said 'What are you going to do you SWAT f---.'"

Talend said Saltarelli grabbed one of his extra firearm ammunition magazines but was not able to pull it out of his vest, and at that point, he and two other officers placed him under arrest.

Officer Ryan McCloskey reported that Saltarelli kicked Talend and tried to kick him as well. The officers took him to the ground in a struggle before he was carried from the street to a safe location.

Village officials redacted whatever happened next from McCloskey's report, but at some point later, Saltarelli told officers, "I'll kill you and pop you," according to the police officer's account.

Talend said Saltrelli told him, "bet you were a nerd in high school," and said he was "going to f--- your mom" as he was thrashing around and trying to kick the officers.

In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors reduced the felony charge to a single count of misdemeanor battery and dropped the resisting arrest charge, and Saltarelli admitted grabbing Talend's ammunition magazine.

As part of the deal, Saltarelli was sentenced to a year of probation and to pay $514 in assessments.

At his sentencing hearing Thursday in Skokie, Saltarelli was asked if he had anything to say on his behalf.

"No," he said. "I'm good."