COOK COUNTY, IL – A Westchester man has been charged with aggravated battery and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon after he pointed a firearm at another motorist following a minor traffic accident near Hillside, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart announced today.
At approximately 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, Sheriff’s Police responded to a report of a vehicle crash on Roosevelt Road near I-294.
Upon arrival, officers learned that Tawfiq Mazakis, 51, of the 1501 block of Mandel Avenue in Westchester, was involved in a minor traffic accident with another driver. Both Mazakis and the victim, a 48-year-old male, pulled over to the side of the roadway, and Mazakis allegedly exited his vehicle and approached the victim and attempted to punch him in the head.
The victim blocked the strikes with his left arm, and Mazakis then allegedly pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the victim’s head, and then struck him in the face with the firearm, causing a laceration to the victim’s face.
Mazakis then returned to his vehicle, and the victim called 911. Mazakis was arrested by Sheriff’s Police and Hillside Police, who responded to assist, recovered the firearm from Mazakis’ vehicle.
Mazakis appeared in the Maywood Courthouse today for a bond hearing on charges of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon and Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon, both felonies. He was issued a $15,000 D bond and was released after posting the required 10 percent of the bond.
The public is reminded that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the government in a court of law.
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