Man pleads not guilty to stabbing ex-wife in park

An Orland Park man pleaded not guilty Sept. 2 to stabbing the wife of a Rochelle police officer last month in a Rochelle park.

After hearing testimony from an Ogle County detective, Ogle County Judge Stephen Pemberton found probable cause to charge Jamil I. Saleh, 29,  with attempted murder, armed violence, three counts of aggravated domestic battery, and three counts of aggravated battery.

Saleh is accused of stabbing Maha Bergeron, 24, his ex-wife, while they were at Cooper Park on the west side of Rochelle on Aug. 13.

Saleh and Bergeron have three children.  Bergeron is currently married to Rochelle Police Sergeant Jason Bergeron.

Brian Ketter, a detective with the Ogle County Sheriff's Department, who investigated the incident appeared in court as a witness by the prosecution's request.

Assistant States Attorney Earl Peterson asked Ketter for details about the investigation.

"Maha Bergeron was at the park with their kids.  There was an altercation where she was stabbed," said Ketter.

Ketter said off-duty Rochelle officers Aaron Rodebaugh and Jason Bergeron were at the park during the incident.

"Rodebaugh said Maha was sitting with Saleh.  He observed one of Jamil's fists plunge into Maha," said Ketter.

Ketter said Saleh waived his Miranda rights and the subsequent interview was recorded on video and audio, he said.

Ketter said that during the interview Selah told him he was at the park to see Maha and the children.

Saleh wanted to take the children but Maha would not allow it.

"They got in an argument.  She would not let him take the children.  Selah went to a van and retrieved a knife.  He took the knife and stabbed Maha," said Ketter.  "He said he stabbed her at least once in the chest.  Prior to the stabbing, Maha said 'not over my dead body.'"

"Saleh said 'I wanted her dead,'" said Ketter.

Ketter said a five-inch black-handled knife was recovered at the crime scene.

"It was intact but bent," he said.

Peterson asked if he knew the extent of Bergeron's injuries.

"There were four stab wounds.  Two to the chest, one above the left knee, and one to the hand," said Ketter.  "One stab wound collapsed her left lung.  Maha needed reconstructive surgery on her hand to regain the use of her thumb," Ketter said.

Bergeron has been released from Rockford Memorial Hospital where she was airlifted after the incident.

Ketter said that besides the two off-duty officers, 10 to 12 other people at the park witnessed the incident.

He said the investigation revealed that earlier in the day Saleh had gone to the Rochelle Police Department to make a complaint against Jason Bergeron.

Ketter said Saleh spoke with Deputy Chief Eric Higby and complained that Jason Bergeron, a sergeant with the department, was using his authority to "brainwash Maha."

Public defender Eric Morrow, who is representing Saleh, requested a jury trial.

A pre-trial hearing is set for Oct. 13 at 9 a.m.