Decorated Officer Hospitalized After Attack

In his almost two decades of service, officer Tim Gramins has seen his share of action in Skokie.

In August 2008, Gramins was involved in a shoot out with an alleged bank robber in Skokie. Gramins was in pursuit of the individual when the suspect suddenly stopped his vehicle in a residential side street. The suspect would then begin firing, with his first four shots hitting the windshield of Gramins' squad car.

In the end, the suspect was fatally shot and killed by Gramins.

Fast forward to today, and the highly decorated officer is currently out of commission after an alleged attack by a Skokie teen.

Gramins and several other officers responded to a noise complaint in the 4800 block of Main Street on July 11 around 11:30 p.m. A caller told police that she was hearing noises come from what was supposed to be an unoccupied basement.

When police arrived they immediately smelled the odor of burnt cannabis emitting from the basement unit, according to the report. Officers would soon enter and locate three teens sitting on a sofa. They would ultimately find a marijuana cigar as well as a bag containing more than six grams of cannabis near one of the alleged suspects, the report said.

Tyreace Brown, 19, of the 4800 block of Main Street, allegedly punched officer Gramins in the right side of the head while police attempted to detain him. He also allegedly punched another officer in the head during the scuffle, the report said.

While police called for backup, Brown continued to resist arrest, and knocked Gramins - along with himself - off a flight of cement stairs, the report said. Despite injuring his hand after the fall, Gramins still attempted to detain the suspect.  

Ultimately, backup arrived and Brown was soon handcuffed and arrested. He was charged with two counts of aggravated battery, one count of unlawful possession of cannabis and one count of resisting a peace officer. His court date is today at the Skokie courthouse. The other two suspects were released because they "did not act criminally," the report said.

Meanwhile, Gramins was transported to Skokie Hospital to treat an injury to his arm. It is unclear when he will return to duty, police said. In 2009, Grammins was named Illinois State Officer of the Year and was also invited to the White House for his heroism during the 2008 shoot out.

Like Skokie Patch on Facebook