Crown Point firefighter charged with fighting security guards at Kid Rock concert
Tinsley Park IL October 2 2018
A volunteer Crown Point firefighter was arrested last weekend on charges he allegedly fought security guards and pushed another man during a concert in Tinley Park, Illinois.
Robert “Bob” Gliem, 47, was charged Sept. 22 in Cook County Circuit Court with four counts of Class A misdemeanor battery.
Gliem, of Crown Point, is listed in an Indiana public employees database as a volunteer firefighter for the Crown Point Fire Department.
Fire Chief Dave Crane said Monday he heard rumors about Gliem’s arrest, but he was unable to substantiate the allegations. He said he had no comment about the case.
Attempts to reach Gliem for comment Monday were unsuccessful.
Crown Point Mayor David Uran said he was just learning about the case as of Monday afternoon and had not seen any verified details. However, he said ultimately it is a personnel matter. He did say the city of Crown Point expects appropriate behavior representative of the city from its employees.
Police officers were dispatched about 10:20 p.m. Sept. 22 to a Kid Rock concert at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Tinley Park to assist private security officers with handcuffing and escorting an offender from the venue’s skybox section, according to a police report.
Officers learned at the scene Gliem and two others were detained by security guards on suspicion of battery, police said.
A man told officers he was watching the concert when patrons sitting behind him spilled beer on him, the report states. He said he confronted the patrons about it, at which point he was pushed into a railing by a man wearing a red shirt. He said a second man then punched him in the face.
The man identified Gliem as the person who pushed him into the railing. Gliem allegedly attempted to punch a security guard responding to the skybox during the altercation, court records state. He then allegedly fought with three security guards, who eventually were able to restrain him.
Gliem was “belligerent” after police officers arrived at the venue, court records allege. He declared at one point, “this was a status offense” and said police had no right to detain him. He then allegedly pushed a security guard in front of a police officer, which resulted in his arrest.
Gliem is identified in the police report as an employee of a Louisiana-based company producing firefighting pump systems. A company news release from January states Gliem has 29 years of fire service experience. He previously worked as assistant fire chief for the BP Refinery in Whiting, the release states.
Gliem is scheduled for a court hearing Oct. 29 in Bridgeview, Illinois.
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