47th Ward Democratic president charged in election night bar battery
SUN-TIMES STAFF March 26, 2011 10:48PM
Updated: March 27, 2011 5:43PM
The president of the 47th Ward Democratic Organization was arrested and charged Saturday with misdemeanor battery for allegedly striking a man in a bar on election night in February.
William Helm, 47, of the 4700 block of North Lincoln, was arrested after a meeting at the ward’s Democratic headquarters Saturday morning.
The victim told police that Helm allegedly struck him on the left side of the face with a closed fist about midnight after the Feb. 22 election at the Celtic Crown Public House, 4301 N. Western. Two others also allegedly punched and kicked the victim, police said.
Reached late Saturday, Helm said he was “amazed and shocked’’ by his arrest more than a month after the alleged incident. Helm — a former Cook County Forest Preserve worker — said he was at the bar that night and witnessed an ‘‘altercation’’ involving someone he described as a longtime campaign worker. But “I had nothing to do with it. It had nothing to do with me.’’
He declined to identify the alleged victim; he said he might have been fingered because of his role as president.
“It’s politically motivated,’’ he said. “I look forward to going to court.’’
Helm is scheduled to appear in court on April 20.
