Man arrested in Feb. 18 attack on Chicago alderman in River North

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Chicago Police Department medallion Photo credit Getty Images

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A man was arrested this week in connection with an attack on Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) last month outside a bar in River North.

Antonio Palazzi, 35, is accused of jumping Reilly about 10:35 p.m. Feb. 18 outside Boss Bar, 420 N. Clark St., while the downtown alderman was waiting for friends inside to settle their tabs, Chicago police said.

A warrant was issued for Palazzi’s arrest and he was taken into custody about 11:45 a.m. Wednesday in Roscoe Village, police said. Cook County court records show he was charged with a count of misdemeanor battery.

Reilly previously told the Chicago Sun-Times he was attacked by two people, and last week, police said they had identified two people of interest in connection with the beating.

On Thursday, however, police spokesman Anthony Spicuzza said “further investigation revealed there is only one offender from this incident.”

Reilly said he was attacked after a man started yelling at him from across the street, but that he believes that the beating was random and a case of mistaken identity.

Reilly didn’t call 911 or file a police report because he didn’t require medical attention, he said.

“I just wanted to go home. … I just didn’t think that warranted police attention on what is typically a busy night in downtown Chicago,” he said.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire & Chicago Sun-Times 2021. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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