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Lyons charges offender who has history of harassing police

Lyons, Il News Release — A Chicago man was charged recently with harassing police and unlawful use of a firearm while wearing a bullet proof vest as police were restraining another suspect in an unrelated DUI and house fire, Lyons Police Chief Thomas Herion said.

The suspect, Alexander F. Hottes, was arrested on Dec. 23, 2021 while at the scene of a house fire in which another individual was stopped before he could drive over fire department hoses used in battling the fire at 3900 Gage Ave.

As Lyons police arrested the motorist and was escorting the suspect to a squad car to take him for processing, Hottes began harassing the police officers displaying both his Glock 23 firearm and his bullet proof vest.

The police officers ignored the derogatory comments that Hottes directed towards the officers but ordered Hottes to put his firearm away and secure it in his gun belt.

When Hottes continued to make derogatory comments towards the officers, and ignored their order to secure his weapon, police arrested him and charged with Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon.

“This suspect has a history of showing up at crime scenes and harassing police,” Lyons Police Chief Tom Herion said.

“When someone verbally assaults police showing an automatic weapon and wearing a bullet proof vest, it is going to immediately raise red flags of concern.”

Herion said that in investigating Hottes, they learned that he was employed by Garda World security services, a Canadian-based corporation that provides private security.

Garda World employees are licensed to carry firearms when they are working, but are not permitted to display the weapons outside of their official duties.

After he was arrested, Hottes complained that his shoulder hurt after he was handcuffed by the police and continued his verbal abuse of the police.

Police discovered that Hottes’ Glock 23 had live .40 caliber rounds.

On Dec. 27, Hottes was given an I-Bond

Police said that after speaking with Hottes employer at Garda, they determined that the Glock 23 was not his Garda issued weapon.

“When an individual carrying an automatic weapon and wearing a bullet proof vest comes up to a scene where police officers are engaged in apprehending a suspect who happened to be interfering in firefighter efforts to put out a fire, it raises serious questions about what this person is intending to do,” Herion explained.

“When an individual who is verbally harassing on-duty police officers, or any citizen, and intentionally displays his weapon to present a threatening appearance, that’s intolerable and a threat to every lawful citizen in the village.”

Herion said that Hottes has a history of verbally harassing police while they are engaged in official police work.