CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago deputy fire chief has been charged with attempted murder after he reportedly broke into a woman’s condominium unit and violently attacking her.
Gary Swiercz, 49, who retired this week from the Chicago Ridge Fire Department, allegedly broke into the woman’s condo early Saturday morning armed with a knife. He forced his neighbor to the floor and beat her, according to NWI Times.
Prosecutors in the case say that Swiercz, along with a knife, was also carrying rope, duct tape, a sex toy and lubricant. He found the unidentified woman on the couch asleep and covered her mouth and put the knife to her neck. He then grabbed her by the hair and slammed her into the kitchen floor three times.
The victim reportedly then ran to Swiercz’s apartment after the attack looking for help, knowing he was a firefighter. She was unaware that Swiercz was actually her attacker because he wore a ski mask during the incident WGNTV reports.
When she ran to his apartment, he was not home and his door was open. He was later found in the condominium parking lot.
When police questioned Swiercz about the incident, he confessed and said that he ran away after he realized what he was doing was wrong.
Swiercz now faces attempted murder, attempted sexual assault, and burglary charges and is staying at his father’s house, wearing a home-monitoring bracelet. He is due back in court on Feb. 7.
There is some speculation that a medication error may have induced Swiercz’s behavior.
The victim is recovering and has left the area, reporting severe headaches.