Man arrested after holding woman's head underwater in koi pond at Westfield Old Orchard shopping mall
A man was in custody after police said he pushed a woman into the koi pond at Westfield Old Orchard shopping center and held her head underwater on Tuesday morning.
Skokie police said, shortly after 11 a.m., officers responded to reports of an attempted robbery at the mall.
Witnesses told police that a man was holding a woman's head underwater in the koi pond at the north end of the mall after trying to steal her purse.
Police said witnesses had intervened and separated the man from the woman before officers arrived.
"All we saw was the woman completely submerged under the water, while he had her headlocked… in the koi pond," a witness said. "We thought he was just swimming by himself until we came closer and saw a woman underneath the water."
A preliminary investigation determined the man and woman crossed paths at the mall near the koi pond when the man hit her with a bag and pushed her into the pond, then held her head underwater. Police said initial reports that the man was armed with a handgun were not substantiated.
The man was taken into custody. The woman was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries from the attack.
Westfield Old Orchard said in the statement that an "active police matter" continued as of mid-afternoon Tuesday, and Skokie police were investigating.
"The safety and well-being of our visitors, retailers and employees remain our top priority," the shopping center said in a statement.
Police asked anyone with information on the attack to contact the Skokie Police Department at (847) 982-5900, to call the 24-hour Skokie Crime Tip Hotline at 847-933-TIPS (8477), or to contact Text-A-Tip by texting "Skokie" and your tip to 226787.
