Sheriff's deputy allegedly 'decked' woman at tavern, got punched

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A Cook County Sheriff's deputy has been put on desk duty after he was arrested early Friday for allegedly punching a woman at a Southwest Side bar.

Joseph Ranzino, 49, of Marengo, was arrested at Cha Cha's, 3900 S. Western Ave., police said.

Ranzino walked up to a 43-year-old woman sitting on a barstool and "decked her," about 1 a.m. Friday, according to police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez.

A man seated with her came to her aid and punched Ranzino in the nose, Perez said.

The woman suffered a cut above her eye and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital, while Ranzino was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery, he said.

Ranzino has worked in the sheriff's electronic-monitoring department since 1995, according to department spokesman Steve Patterson.