A longtime Chicago city inspector is now facing felony charges after Illinois State Police say he emailed violent threats to state Sen. Andrew Chesney. Joseph Haggerty, 59, turned himself in on Tuesday and was arrested on two counts of threatening a public official. He was taken into custody in Stephenson County, and the case traces back to messages Chesney reported to state police in early September.
State senator reported threats in September
State Sen. Andrew Chesney contacted the Illinois State Police on Sept. 2 after receiving two threatening emails to his government account. His office says the messages landed the same day he took part in a press conference about immigration and former President Trump’s proposal to send National Guard troops to Chicago, according to FOX 32 Chicago.
Arrest and charges
A Stephenson County state's attorney issued an arrest warrant Monday, and Haggerty turned himself in to state police in Cook County on Tuesday before being transported to the Stephenson County Jail, according to NBC Chicago. He faces two felony counts of threatening a public official, and court records in the case were not immediately available.
Senator's statement
Sen. Chesney's office released a statement thanking the Illinois State Police for their "professionalism, diligence, and swift action" and calling it "deeply troubling that an inspector for the City of Chicago issued violent threats" against a sitting official. The statement, obtained by FOX 32 Chicago, also identified the accused as a City of Chicago inspector.
City employment records
City payroll records show an employee with Haggerty's name listed in the Department of Buildings and previously identified as a plumbing inspector, with the Chicago Sun-Times reporting a listed salary of more than $133,000. The Department of Buildings did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Legal context
Under Illinois law, communicating a threat to a public official is an offense under 720 ILCS 5/12-9. That statute defines what counts as a threat and allows felony prosecution depending on the circumstances, according to Illinois statute 720 ILCS 5/12-9. The state must show the communication would place the official in reasonable apprehension of harm and that it related to the official's public duties.
Authorities have not released the full text of the emails and say the investigation remains ongoing. The Stephenson County State's Attorney's Office authorized the warrant and the case remains under investigation, WIFR reported, and no court date had been posted at the time of reporting.
