Embattled police Officer Christopher Darr has resigned, authorities said Tuesday, amid charges he allegedly beat a suspect after a New Year's Eve brawl at an area hotel.
Elgin Police Department spokeswoman Ann Dinges said she could not comment any further about the case, but she was able to confirm Darr, 32, submitted his resignation Monday.
The seven-year police veteran was charged in April with two counts of felony aggravated battery for allegedly beating South Elgin resident Kevin Schwartz, 29, of 381 S. Collins St., a suspect in a fight that broke out among hotel guests at the Holiday Inn, 495 Airport Road, during the early morning hours of Jan. 1.
Darr was off duty at the time of the incident. His father, Jack Darr, a former Elgin Deputy Police Chief and head of the hotel's security, was hospitalized after sustaining cuts, broken ribs and a punctured lung attempting to break up the fight.
Schwartz reportedly was in a car traveling along Illinois 31 after the fight, when it was stopped by police.
Darr allegedly went to the scene and got in the back seat of a patrol car, where he punched Schwartz repeated times in the face and body while Schwartz had is hands cuffed behind his back.
Schwartz initially was charged with mob action in connection with the brawl. This charge was dropped Jan. 31.
Darr was placed on restrictive duty soon after the incident pending an internal investigation, and put on administrative leave once he was charged.
On April 9, he turned himself into the Kane County Sheriff's Office, where he was booked and released about an hour later after posting a $500 bond.
Darr is expected to plead not guilty to both charges at his arraignment, scheduled for July 17.
On May 13, attorneys for Schwartz filed a 11-count federal lawsuit for $5 million against Darr, police Officer Edward Schmidt, the police department, and the city of Elgin.
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