Bail set for Elgin man accused of wrestling Elmhurst cop for gun

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Bail was set at $200,000 for an Elgin man who wrestled with a police officer and tried to take his gun, authorities said.

Alexander Speweik, 34, of the 3100 block of Heritage Parkway, was charged with one count of attempting to disarm a police officer, one count of aggravated battery to a police officer, one count of attempted possession of a stolen motor vehicle and two counts of resisting a police officer, according to a news release from the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office.

Speweik must post $20,000 bond to be released pending trial.

An Elmhurst police officer on patrol about 2 a.m. Dec. 15 saw Speweik walking alone along a roadway and stopped to check on his well-being, the news release said. The officer offered to drive Speweik to the police station so his mother could pick him up.

Speweik got into the driver’s seat of the officer’s vehicle and shut the door, but the vehicle was running in lockout mode, which means it couldn’t be driven, the news release said. After the officer opened the car door and removed Speweik from the vehicle, Speweik knocked him to the ground and pressed his knee to the officer’s head, the news release said.

Speweik placed his hand on the officer’s gun in a failed attempt to take it, according to the news release. Authorities also allege Speweik struck the officer multiple times and caused a cut to his head.

Another Elmhurst officer arrived and used a stun gun on Speweik, who continued resisting both officers as they tried to handcuff him, the news release said.