Swiercz Released on Bond, Must Wear Electronic Monitor
Man accused of attempting to murder and rape Tinley Park neighbor freed on bond and staying with parents in Worth.
Gary Swiercz, who was charged with attempted murder and attempted sexual assault on Saturday after allegedly breaking into his neighbor's apartment in Tinley Park, was released on bond and ordered confined to his parent's home in Worth.
Swiercz, who was earlier placed on indefinite leave from his position as deputy fire chief with the Chicago Ridge Fire Department, must wear an electronic monitoring device.
Prosecutors say Swiercz was wearing a ski mask when he allegedly broke in to his neighbor's apartment. He was reportedly carrying a knife, rope, zip ties and duct tape.
Prosecutors said Swiercz put a knife to the victim's throat and then tried to sexually assault her. They said he left the apartment after a scuffle with the woman.
Witnesses say they say him throwing items into a dumpster.
Swiercz is charged with home invasion, attempted murder, unlawful restraint, burglary and attempted sexual assault.
According to WLS-Channel 7, neighbors in Tinley Park wonder how Swiercz would have gotten into the home.
"Exactly how he got in without anybody hearing? And what are we doing to prevent this in the future?" asked Swiercz's neighbor Lea Elliott.
"To think that someone who is supposed to be protecting us is going around doing these crimes ... It's a scary thought that someone capable of saving your life can go ahead and take it away if they had the chance," said neighbor Ashley Grigaliunas.
According to WBBM-Channel 2, Swiercz's attorney, Colleen McSweeney Moore implied prescription drugs may be to blame and told a judge the attack was "an aberration and totally out of character for this man.”
Moore cited Swiercz's receipt of the Army’s Good Conduct Medal and his community service.
His next court date is scheduled for Tuesday at the Bridgeview courthouse.
S
1:27 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
Perscription drugs do not make a person plan something like this. He was carrying a knife, rope, zip ties and duct tape. The attorney must know the judge real well. WTH. He is charged with home invasion, attempted murder, unlawful restraint, burglary and attempted sexual assault and you let him out on bond because he is a deputy fire chief with a good conduct medal from years back lol~that does not mean a darn thing.
Baba Wawa
5:27 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
His bond was set at $150,000 and he posted the required 10%.
helen
8:13 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
The attorney used to be a judge herself.
Tena Abdallah
8:37 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
I agree don't blame the meds! Perscription drugs don't cause you to rape and murder! it was premeditated! He had the knife, rope, zip ties and duct tape! Somebody should have zip tied his hands and duct taped his mouth! Sick pervert!!!!
Kelly
6:37 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Since she said she smelt alcohol on him and his lawyer is tryin to pull the meds as an excuse(love to hear her say that if it happened to her or her daughter, sister, etc) can't they argue that all perecription meds are labeled to no be taken with alcohol...?
Mary Carumba
2:43 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
So now he's going to go back home to his condo right next to the victims? Doesn't seen right to me.
Mary Carumba
2:44 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
OOPs, I see that he is confined to his mamas home in Worth.
Randal
3:53 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
absolutely right sue....this was a planned attack. todays southtown mentioned he also had a sexual device and lubricant with him during the attack. this is a sick man that needs to be locked up.
Ed
5:15 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
Wow, I can't believe that they released this guy after what he's accused of.
Baba Wawa
5:28 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
His bond was set at $150,000 and he posted the required 10%.
Bob
6:01 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
$15K gets you out of jail for attempted rape and murder? That's probably only 6 weeks salary in CR. I suspect that if his name was "Suarez" or "Sweetbread Sims", or hadn't been politically juiced in through Mayor Siegel's political machine, he'd be cooling his heels at Cook County Jail right now.
Scary stuff that our lives depend on guys who ALLEGEDLY has his kind of an issue.
Baba Wawa
11:27 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
Bond is based on a lot of factors, one of them being his criminal history, which he probably has none given his job, as well as the alleged facts. And is he a flight risk. $15,000 is a lot of money to forfeit should he disappear.
Harry Callahan
8:04 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
And Bob who did you vote for????????
Bob
12:27 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Dirty Harry, I don't live in CR, but Siegel isn't one of my favorites.
Bob
6:05 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
End result here? Someone will get to the victim and she'll drop charges, or the charges will be reduced to simple misdemeanor assault or battery. He'll walk with a small fine and some community service. He'll keep his job and pension.
This'll happen on a news day when no one is looking at this.
Mary Carumba
11:31 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Supposedly he has retired today. He'll get a nice pension at taxpayers expense.
So There
8:05 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Bob, if this guy walks there is no justice system.
Bob
12:31 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
So There, I figured that out a long time ago.....THAT'S why I'm against the death penalty. The criminal "justice" program is so corrupt and unfair in this state that I have no confidence thatti comes to fair and reasonable result. I've known too many cops who've told me how they beat confessions out of innocent men in the 60s, 70s and 80s in CPD, AND LAUGHED ABOUT IT!
Tim R
8:38 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
How old is he and where did he grow up?
BIKERX
10:04 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
If this were my daughter, jail would be the least of his concerns. The fact that he walked on 2 violent felonies is unforgiveable. Prescription drugs my as*. Ski mask, tie wraps, sex toy, lube...he was prepared, but inept. Lock him up for a long time. I'm sure TPPD will pursue this. Next, we'll have libs crying out for zip ties to be outlawed.
Baba Wawa
1:17 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
He didn't walk on anything. There's been no trial and he hasn't been convicted. His bond was set and he posted the required 10%. Get over it.
S
7:38 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
We know Baba we know, His bond was set and he posted the required 10% but that does not make a difference to anyone but you it seems. Attempted murder along with the other charges should not get a bond!
Baba Wawa
11:30 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Sue, all defendants charged with a crime get a bond hearing regardless of the crime, no matter how heinous. Murder, sex crimes, drugs, robbery, theft, burglary, even attempt murder. It makes a difference to me because what you're saying goes against the Constitution and state law. If that's how you want it, perhaps you should move out of the United States.
Stones
8:12 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Baba, We all know how it works. Everyone gets a bond hearing, but that doesn't mean everyone gets a bond. They can be remanded without bond or held on a very high bond. That's what this guy should have received.
S
1:09 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Thank you Stones, Baba does not seem to get that. I think its funny you think I should move because I have a different opinion than yours. You must have some ties to this situation because you are the ONLY one on here that seems to think he should be on bond.
ann wright
10:06 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
I feel sorry for his mama who has to deal with this creepy "kid" at her age. Scary!
joy
11:07 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
I work in the Ridge and I know a lot of people who know him personaly. They say they are in shock over this cuz he dont strike anyone as a crazed lunatic... Like I tell my 15year old,, beware cause ya just never know.. This man is truly sick.. I hope this woman can eventually cope with this.
S
8:08 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Thats right you never know, just because he got a good conduct medal years ago means NOTHING
Rich
11:35 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
You wonder why law abiding people go out and buy guns.
How would you like this guy moving back in after one attempted murder that failed ?
Bob
12:33 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Anyone know how the victim was able to escape this guy? He may be big, but he looks as though he might not be the quickest guy in the world. Too bad the victim wasn't armed to REALLY mete out justice here!
K.B.C.
5:09 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Wow. Just the fact that they even allow bonding out for attempted murder and attempted sexual assault is ridiculous! Makes ya kinda wish the Judge would have been the one to have been victimized because then you can bet there would be no bond set. So to say he posted bond and to get over it, I don't think so. Allowing bond was all ready an act to prove it's always who you know.
S
7:14 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Baba Wawa are you related to him because it seems like you are defending him. I know innocent till proven guilty but it looks pretty clear to me and many others.
Baba Wawa
11:35 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
No, I'm not related to him and I'm certainly not defending him. I just find it disconcerting that all the crackpots on here are so shocked and horrified that he got a bond -- and posted it. People have posted bond on murder cases. His bond could have been set at a million dollars and what if he posted the $100,000? People have put up their houses and property to post bond.
So no, I'm not defending him at all, but get over it that he's out on bond. Shocking as it is to everyone, he's had a bond hearing -- which happens in every case -- and he posted the bond, it's a common occurrence.
S
1:12 am on Thursday, January 10, 2013
now we are crackpots for our thoughts lol, seems like your the one with the different opinion not us. Didn't your Momma teach you any manners. calling people names? grow up BABA
S
7:20 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=8944527
Dm
10:59 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Sounds like this guy was trying to fulfill a fantasy. Fat ugly man living alone, must be watching to much, CSI and Criminal Minds and whatever Criminal junk on TV. When she got away from he, then he tried to kill her by banging her head on the kitchen floor.
Mary Carumba
5:39 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
His mama better be careful. He may decide to make her his next victim.
Mary Carumba
5:44 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Hopefully they are checking his DNA against other cases that may have occurred.
RON S
7:41 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
i live in chicago ridge and the police,mayor fire dept ,they all think there untouchable,its a small village and the money they make to protect the people of chicago ridge is a joke,all they care about are there brotherhood forget the people who live there and pay taxes i wish i could sell my house and move out of the village ,i know because i have delt with the village ,the police and fire dept,what they say goes and if you dont like it they will make your life hell....
S
6:40 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
Now the cook county site shows charges only as 720 ILCS 5 12-11(a)(1) [995100
HOME INVASION/ARMED/FORCE .........hmmm wheres the other charges!!!
John Q Public
5:11 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
This must be the site for all Sh#t house attorneys. Whether or not any of you agree with his bond release or not, he's out because the states attorney did not object during the bond hearing. He will stand before a judge or jury and answer for his actions. Now all of you should go back to doing something productive like managing your own lifes and quit worrying about his, the victim or anyone else. Opinions are like A-holes.....everyone has one!! And the media always gives the facts straight and true!! If one of you ever dealt with the media you would know their the worse people in the world. It should be a crime for how they report news like this.