Round Lake Beach detective on unpaid administrative leave

A Round Lake Beach police detective is on administrative leave pending an investigation of domestic battery in Antioch.

Round Lake Beach police said in a news release they were informed June 5 by Antioch police that Detective Jose R. Barrera was under investigation for domestic battery. At the time, Round Lake Beach police Chief Wayne Wilde placed Barrera on desk duty pending the results of that investigation, according to the release.

On June 26, Barrera was placed on unpaid administrative leave after Wilde was notified by Antioch police that Barrera, an Antioch resident, was being charged with domestic battery as approved by the Lake County state’s attorney’s office, the release said.

According to Antioch police, officers responding about 1:10 a.m. June 5 to a 911 call found a woman who was the victim of a domestic battery and determined Barrera, 31, had left the scene before they arrived.

Information was reviewed by the Lake County state’s attorney’s office and an arrest warrant issued on one count of domestic battery, a class A misdemeanor, according to Antioch police.

“Regardless of the circumstances surrounding an investigation, we are committed to vigorously pursuing justice and providing unwavering support to those affected,” Antioch police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow said.

Barrera will remain on unpaid leave pending the results of an internal administrative review and criminal court proceedings, Wilde said in the release.

A motion by the state’s attorney’s office to recuse itself in the case is scheduled to be heard Wednesday morning in Lake County circuit court.

Public Information Officer Sara Avalos declined to comment on specifics but said the state’s attorney’s office determines recusal on a case-by-case basis.