On July 10, Barney Lonzo, 57, was arrested and charged for battery and a hate crime against a fellow O'Hare Airport employee.
According to the arrest report, on June 23 Lonzo, who lives on the 4900 block of Hirsch Street, allegedly struck and shoved his openly gay, male co-worker against a locker while calling him "faggot," "sissy" and "bitch."
The report states that Lonzo allegedly struck the victim three times with an open hand, causing the victim to fall back in his chair and for his hat to fly off of his head.
Formal felony charges filed with the Circuit Court of Cook County state that after shoving his coworker into the locker, Lonzo allegedly threatened to kill the man.
According to court documents, Bail was set at $100,000.
Under Illinois law, Lonzo could face between one and three years in a state penitentiary, and/or an up to $25,000 fine for a Class 4 felony.
The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), which employs Lonzo and the alleged victim, said in a statement to Windy City Times that it was aware of the arrest, and had referred the matter to the Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity Division of the Chicago Department of Human Resources.
"As this is an ongoing police investigation, the CDA has no further comment," the statement read.
Lonzo's attorney did not return Windy City Times' request for a comment.
According to the Cook County state's attorney's office, which is prosecuting the case, Lonzo's next court date is Aug. 19.