Police were called to the Lake Villa home of state Sen. Suzi Schmidt for a domestic dispute described by a prosecutor as "apparently mutual combat."It was the second time in a month that police have been called to the house for a report of a domestic disturbance.
The latest incident occurred at about 6:30 p.m. Monday when Schmidt’s husband Robert told police that Schmidt struck him with a cellphone and bit and scratched him, authorities said.
Suzi Schmidt told police her husband knocked her to the ground and struck her in the eye, according to authorities.
Authorities reported that Suzi Schmidt had a red mark on her face and Robert Schmidt had a laceration on his arm when they arrived.
Neither party was charged. Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Steve Scheller said he decided not to approve charges based on the information he received from police.
“It was a case that couldn’t be proven in court,” he said. “There was apparently mutual combat between Suzi Schmidt and her husband.”
The senator released a statement saying "my husband and are I going through the most challenging period of our 31-year marriage. It is a very difficult, personal family matter that I deeply regret has become public. We are taking the appropriate steps to try to come to a mutually acceptable resolution. Despite our differences, Bob and I truly appreciate the remarkable show of support from our friends in the community.”
Her husband had no comment.
In mid-August, the sheriff's department investigated a "domestic incident" between Suzi Schmidt and her husband, who called police to their home. No charges were filed in that case either by the state’s attorney's office.
At that time, neither Suzi Schmidt nor her husband would comment on what Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran described as a "verbal argument."
Legislative aide Lauren Fleming described the incident at that time as a "personal matter."
Neither Suzi nor Robert Schmidt could immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
Scheller said he did not take the previous matter into consideration when deciding whether or not to approve charges in the latest case.
“I don’t consider that unless there was some sort of link between the two,” he said. “I didn’t see a link.”
Suzi Schmidt, a Republican, served as the Lake County Board chairwoman from 2000 to 2010, when she defeated Democrat Michael Bond for the Senate seat in the 31st District.
