Mokena park officials' fight attracts police
Discord between two Mokena park commissioners, who frequently have been at odds on park-related issues, escalated into a personal confrontation that resulted in recent village police intervention, records show.
Commissioner Dennis Bagdon filed a complaint with Mokena police March 15, claiming park board president Mike Bartos accosted him outside his home over a traffic dispute nearby and the two engaged in an expletive-laden shouting match, according to a police report and video. Bartos claimed Bagdon had initiated the argument in traffic by swerving his car in Bartos' direction, the police report said.
Bartos was cited with a local ordinance violation for disorderly conduct and fined $50, according to police documents.
The incident occurred amid a contentious park board race in which Bartos is seeking re-election to a two-year term. While Bagdon's seat is not up for election in the April 4 contest, he has supported Bartos' opponent, Lana Graser, a former park board president and retired director of the Lincoln-Way Special Recreation Association.
According to the police report, which the Daily Southtown obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, Bagdon told police he was turning in his Dodge Ram pickup truck from northbound LaGrange Road to eastbound Willow Lane when Bartos began “tailgating” and “trying to cut him off.”
Bagdon told police he turned into the driveway of his home — about four blocks away — and Bartos stopped in front of his house and approached him, “swearing,” “screaming” and “giving him the middle finger,” which prompted him to call police, the report stated.
Bartos, however, told police he was stopped at the light at that intersection, when Bagdon swerved toward his 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche, while giving him the “finger,” the report stated.
Bagdon gave police a recording from a video surveillance camera on his property and, after reviewing it, police said “it clearly shows Bartos approach Bagdon in an aggressive manner” in his driveway, and “immediately screaming, ‘You little fat (expletive, expletive),'” according to the report.
The video also shows the two men standing in the driveway and Bartos yelling, “You just cut me off, and flipped me off at the light. You tried to drive into my car,” the report stated.
Bagdon told Bartos to leave his property, “you lying sack of (expletive),” at which time Bartos returned to his vehicle, according to police.
When contacted by phone for comment, Bartos replied with a text message saying that he was not charged.
Bagdon said he installed a video camera outside his house after his home and vehicles were egged.
“It's a shame this has gotten so out of hand. It's ugly,” Bagdon said.
Meanwhile, Bartos on Sunday reported to police that 10 large and five small signs for his re-election campaign were taken last week by an unknown person, records show. Bartos told police this wasn't the first time some of his signs were stolen.
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