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Man detained after woman attacked, held underwater in pond at Skokie mall, police say
A man is detained after police said he attacked a woman at a suburban Chicago mall and held her head underwater in a pond.
SKOKIE, Ill. - A Skokie man is facing felony charges after police said he attacked a senior citizen and held her head underwater in a pond at Old Orchard shopping mall.
Skokie mall attack charges
Skokie police responded shortly after 11 a.m. Tuesday to reports of a man holding a woman’s head underwater in a pond at 4905 Old Orchard Center.
Police arrested William Dobbs, 35, at the scene.
William Dobbs | SPD
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved the following charges against Dobbs:
- One felony count of attempted murder
- One felony count of aggravated battery to a senior citizen
- One felony count of aggravated battery with great bodily harm
The backstory:
Police said Dobbs and the woman did not know each other.
As they crossed paths outside near a pond at the north end of the mall, Dobbs allegedly struck the woman without provocation with a saddle-type bag and pushed her into the pond after trying to take her purse.
Dobbs then held the woman’s head underwater, police said. Bystanders intervened and separated the two before officers arrived.
The woman was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to police.
A report that Dobbs had a handgun was not substantiated, police said.
What's next:
Dobbs was due in court Wednesday in Skokie.
What you can do:
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Skokie Police Department at 847-982-5900.
The Source: The information in this story came from the Skokie Police Department.