Mayor claims to be victim of “violent crime” in DownTown Park Forest

Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)—Mayor Joseph Woods claims he was the victim of a violent crime in downtown Park Forest earlier this month. The incident, which we learned began with a dumpster fire behind a downtown business, allegedly led to two people attacking the mayor. One of them had a knife, according to Mayor Woods.

According to the mayor, councilwoman Tiffany Graham, an employee of the company, also witnessed the events.

Mayor Woods, in a statement released Saturday afternoon, gave details of the attack on his person by two individuals, one of whom was carrying a large knife.

He said the incident happened on August 6. He said he did not report it immediately because the alleged attackers were “acquaintances.” He said he wanted to consider his options. The mayor said “over the last week” the alleged attackers “started demanding compensation.”

“Imagine this,” Mayor Woods said in his statement. “I am the victim of an attack and now the perpetrators, the people who attacked me, want compensation.”

The mayor claims the attackers “eventually reported the incident to the police.” He is calling on Town Manager Tom Mick and Police Chief Brian Rzyski to direct the Illinois State Police to investigate the matter. In his statement, Mayor Woods described the need for an independent investigation to ensure that “no one will assume that the matter is being handled improperly because of my status as mayor.”

Woods says some “have decided to use this incident for their own political purposes.”

We learned of this incident on Saturday and began gathering information from those involved, Park Forest Police and Illinois State Police.

6 August

On the evening of August 6, I was the victim of a violent crime in DownTown Park Forest. I was attacked by two people. While I was fighting off the first attacker and defending myself, the second attacker came at me with a large knife and joined in the attack. At one point, I had to get up off the ground. I am grateful to Tiffani Graham, who was present and de-escalated the physical altercation by getting between me and the attackers. After a few minutes of embarrassingly vulgar verbal back and forth, I left the room and went home.

Since the attackers were people I knew, I did not report the incident to the police immediately and wanted to take my time to consider my options. But in the last week, the attackers started demanding compensation. Imagine I was the victim of an attack and now the perpetrators who attacked me want compensation. They have finally filed a report with the police.

“Thursday, August 15th”

On Thursday 15 August, I came to the conclusion that mediation did not seem practical and that my only option was to exercise my rights as a victim, report the matter to the police myself and, depending on the outcome of the investigation, ultimately press charges.

In the interest of complete transparency, I have requested and strongly recommend that the Village Manager and Chief of Police investigate this case so that no one gets the idea that the matter is being handled improperly due to my status as Mayor. I am optimistic that the truth about this incident will come to light as a result of this investigation and the inaccuracy of some of the current rumors will be fully corrected.

I want to assure the residents of Park Forest that this will in no way affect my duties as Mayor. I am well aware that some have chosen to use this incident for their own political purposes. They will spread irresponsible narratives and share manipulated reports of the incident. However, I assure the citizens of Park Forest that political threats, intimidation and harassment will in no way affect my commitment to serve this community to the fullest extent possible. I fully believe that the truth will come out.

eNews Park Forest will continue to follow this story.