Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Unleashed dog at Porter Beach leads to melee; two charged

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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.

 

 

Posted 8/12/2019

 
 
 
 

 

 

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