A preliminary hearing has been set for a 29-year-old Galesburg man who had been arrested after a physical altercation that occurred Saturday night above the Seminary Street Pub.
According to court documents, Edgard J. Pujols-Droz made a video appearance in Knox County Circuit Court on Tuesday with Circuit Judge James R. Standard. His bail had been set at $100,000 previously, and Judge Standard ruled that bond would stand.
Pujols-Droz was back in court Wednesday morning making his first appearance with Public Defender David Hansen before Circuit Judge Raymond A. Cavanaugh – where the preliminary hearing was set for February 20th.
According to police reports, around 9:00 p.m. on Saturday Galesburg Police officers were dispatched to the Seminary Street Pub for a fight. Officers were informed that the subjects in question were above the bar.
Officers found two men in an upstairs hallway, one was standing while the other was unconscious on the ground. The unconscious man would be Pujols-Droz.
Allegedly Pujols-Droz had been making unwanted sexual advances toward a female bartender. Police reports indicate that she was uncomfortable and tried to escape him to an upstairs apartment.
He allegedly followed her and forced his way into the apartment. A male relative of the bartender’s pushed the intruder out of the apartment, but allegedly Pujols-Droz brandished a knife and tried stabbing the relative. It was wrestled from his hands.
The relative than struck Pujols-Droz in the face repeatedly until he passed out.
Pujols-Droz was allegedly very combative with officers and medical personnel when he was woken up. Eventually he was taken to OSF St. Francis in Peoria when concerns were raised regarding possible bleeding on the brain.
He faces a Class X Felony of home invasion, Class 1 Felony of attempted home invasion, and Class 4 Felony of criminal trespassing of a residence. Class X felony charges carry a statutory prison sentencing range of 6-30 years.
