Glendale Heights woman who bit officer sentenced

CHICAGO - A former Glendale Heights woman has been sentenced to prison for biting a police officer as she was being arrested in June, according to the DuPage County state's attorney's office.

Tyler Russell, 27, was sentenced to four years in the Illinois Department of Corrections Tuesday afternoon after she was found guilty of one felony count of aggravated battery to a police officer and three counts of aggravated battery following a three-day-long jury trial, prosecutors said.

On June 20, Glendale Heights police responded to a report of two people arguing in a parking lot in the 500 block of Gregory Avenue. When officers arrived they found Russell sitting in the driver's seat of a car, and smelled alcohol coming from the vehicle.

Officers noticed two opened cans of beer in the car's cupholders as well as an opened case of beer.

Tyler Russell (DuPage County states attorney)

When officers asked Russell to get out of the car, she began walking away, but returned to the vehicle when police ordered her to return. As officers were taking her into custody, she began to resist and bit one of the officers on the right bicep.

He was transported to a local hospital for a "substantial injury", but has since recovered, prosecutors said.

"Day in and day out, our police officers respond to calls not knowing what they will find once they get there," DuPage County prosecutor Robert Berlin said. "It is an extremely difficult and dangerous job and in DuPage County we are extremely lucky to have the best of the best ready and willing to protect us."

"We are all grateful that the officer, while scarred, has made a full recovery from the injury Ms. Russell inflicted upon him."