Crest Hill man charged with battering, assaulting Romeoville cop

A Crest Hill man was charged with battering and assaulting a Romeoville police officer who had responded to a call of someone blocking a lane on Interstate 55, police said.

On Sunday, officers were sent to the area of Weber Road and I-55 in response to a report of an intoxicated man impeding traffic and preventing vehicles from getting on the exit ramp, according to a news release from Romeoville Deputy Police Chief Brant Hromadka.

The man was identified by police as Robert Lozano, 41. Lozano had a vehicle blocking the turn lane on the I-55 southbound ramp, Hromadka said.

Lozano was “acting erratic and walking into traffic,” he said.

“The subject was threatening physical violence towards the officers and making aggressive movements indicating he wanted to physically assault the officers,” Hromadka said.

Lozano then grabbed an officer by the arms and grabbed the officer’s duty belt, he said.

Officers were able to take Lozano into custody following a physical altercation and he was subsequently charged with aggravated battery, aggravated assault and resisting a police officer.

On Monday, Judge Brian Barrett set Lozano’s bond at $10,000 and ordered him not to consume alcohol or illicit drugs, including marijuana.

Barrett also ordered Lozano to not possess firearms, ammunition or other dangerous weapons as a condition of his bond.

Lozano was required to surrender any firearms or dangerous weapons in his possession to the nearest law enforcement agency within 24 hours of his release from jail.

Lozano was released from the Will County jail on Monday after posting bond.