Hobart police officer faces felony charge after alleged fight, chief recommends unpaid leave

Now, new tonight, the Hobart police officer is facing criminal charges, including one felony, after a fight outside of a home. We're talking about Corporal Mike Gallagher, who is currently on paid administrative leave. Brett Boganski is live outside Hobart Police Department, and Brett, you found out the chief is recommending that Corporal Gallagher be put on unpaid leave. Yeah, certainly the case, and he released a statement just a few days ago. And he wants him on unpaid leave, depending on the outcome of the criminal case here. We found out in his court documents that two people ended up going to hospital. One for concussion, the other one had some bruising and they even described bite marks in his court documents here. And this affidavit described a night of drinking where three people were going bar hopping, and eventually three people ended up at this one woman's house that was on on Jackson Street here in Hobart. Then the son of the homeowner arrived to that home and got upset and leaves because Gallagher and his girlfriend were there. Court documents said the homeowner told Gallagher and his girlfriend that they had left, but they ended up staying while getting their things. So that's when the homeowner's daughter found out about what was happening, and then shows up with her boyfriend. So this is where things get a little different in the court documents. There are conflicting statements and different accounts of what happened here. But and it includes who started the fight, who got physical first. But the court documents describe a fight where multiple people are throwing punches and pushing one another and wrestling. Gallagher is accused of punching the homeowner's daughter in the face, and then also punching the homeowner's daughter's boyfriend and then slamming his head into the concrete stairs outside and pulling out chunks of his hair. Now Gallagher and his girlfriend reportedly drove away on a golf cart where they were later stopped by Hobart police officers, and they noticed Gallagher's injuries to his face and hands. And officers described Gallagher displaying what they called drunkenness. They described sort of being smelling like alcohol and fluctuating between friendly demeanor and then getting angry, irritated. However, it did not say that Gallagher got arrested then, which happened on August 14th. But Lake County Prosecutor indicted him last week on three charges, including one felony for battery resulting in serious bodily injury, battery resulting in bodily injury, and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. And I reached out to Gallagher's lawyer earlier today, and they released a statement which you can see right here. And it's very important over here. They said there is an important distinction, however, between allegations contained in a probable cause affidavit and full and accurate account of what actually occurred. His lawyer was saying we dispute the state's characterization of the physical confrontation, and Corporal Gallagher maintains his right, like any other citizen, to defend himself. Now Corporal Gallagher has been seen right here in Fox Chicago. In May, we told you about Pablo Payon who said he was physically removed from a Hobart town council meeting regarding that. A center where he was accused of refusing to leave and being disorderly at that meeting. Now Payon disputed that account given by the city and in the video that we obtained, you see the officer which is Corporal Gallagher pushing Payon, later holding him against the railing and arresting him. Payon felt that this was unnecessary. This was an unnecessary use of force, and that he was simply asking him whether or not he was going to be arrested. So just keep in mind here, Gallagher is still on paid administrative leave while this court case is playing out here, and even though the chief of police ended up getting that statement saying that he's recommending unpaid administrative leave here, and is ultimately the Hobart Board of Public Works and Safety that would make that determination. But he is still represented by a union and involved in bargaining rights and being able to defend his job here. I did reach out to the union for comment about this, and still waiting to hear back. Live in Hobart tonight, Prapagansky Fox Chicago.