Two Bolingbrooke,
Ill., residents were arrested Saturday on multiple charges following a melee
at Porter Beach, which reportedly started when a family asked them to leash
their dog, Porter Police said.
Tatianna J. Guzman,
27, was charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent; three counts of
intimidation; three counts of battery; resisting law enforcement; disorderly
conduct; and public intoxication, police said.
Kimberly D. Gavaris,
51, was charged with two counts of neglect of a dependent; five counts of
battery; resisting law enforcement; disorderly conduct; and public
intoxication.
According to
police, “the initial event”--around 3 p.m.--“involved a canine that was not
on a leash that was venturing toward another family that asked (Guzman and
Gavaris) to control their canine. The canine owner(s) reportedly became
irate and started an argument with this family, at which time innocent
bystanders were trying to de-escalate the situation.”
“The first act of
physical violence was against the (unknown) black male whose hair was pulled
and he was being hit on the back” by Gavaris, who was “yelling at him that
‘You can’t tell me what to do,’” police said. “This family left the area as
they wanted no part of the disturbance.”
Meanwhile, several
bystanders who attempted to intercede were also struck by the two women,
police said. Gavaris struck a male in the face, scratched another male on
the back of his neck, and punched (a woman) in the face, ripped off her
bikini top, and continued to slap and kick her,” police said.
Guzman, for her
part, slapped and scratched a different male.
A witness to the
incident advised police that the two women “probably hit six people.”
On their arrival at
Porter Beach, at 3:15 p.m., officers detained Gavaris and Guzman--who,
police learned, are mother and daughter--at which time Guzman “began to get
angry and struck the rear of the van, then turned and shoved (Gavaris) to
the ground,” police said. “Officers took (Guzman) to the ground to control
her and place her into handcuffs. (Gavaris) then began running toward the
group on the ground, raising her leg as though to stomp (Guzman) or the
officers,” prompting another officer to place her in an arm bar and handcuff
her, police said.
Two juveniles in
the company of Guzman and Gavaris were placed into the custody of Child
Protective Services, police said, and when a CPS caseworker attempted to
speak to Guzman, Guzman told the caseworker that “she was going to hunt her
down and kill her,” police said. Guzman “also made several comments toward
the officers in the same manner.”
When subsequently
placed in the squad car, police said, Guzman attempted to bite two officers
and then, after being transported to Porter County Jail, she “attempted to
bite and spit at the jail staff.”
Gavaris was
transported to Porter County Jail as well.