Suspect attacks employee who caught him breaking into College of Lake County in Grayslake

A suspect arrested for arguing with an athletic trainer while trying to steal a backpack at the College of Lake County was released on parole after an appearance in Lake County Court.

Bowa Banda, 41, was charged with a Class 2 felony count of burglary and a Class 4 misdemeanor count of possession of burglary tools after the incident at the CLC athletic training center on Oct. 19.

If Banda is found guilty of the most serious charge at trial, he could be sentenced to 4 to 7 years in prison. The charge is also probation.

Prosecutors with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office said during an Oct. 20 detention hearing that an athletic trainer saw Banda trying to walk out of the athletic training facility with two backpacks on Oct. 19 at 2:05 p.m.

The athletic trainer, who identified one of the backpacks as his, confronted Banda, stating that only students, staff and gym members have access to CLC’s locker rooms and training facilities.

Banda told the trainer he was homeless and wanted to shower, but the trainer tried to detain Banda and used a phone to call 9-1-1.

A fight ensued when Banda tried to pull the phone from the trainer’s hand, prosecutors said in court.

The two got into an argument and Banda bit the athletic trainer on the left thumb hard enough to break the skin and make the thumb bleed.

Police arrived on the scene and arrested Banda, stopping the fight.

Prosecutors said a search of the backpacks revealed Banda’s wallet, cellphone, a screwdriver, a knife and two crowbars.

At the time of the incident, Banda was in custody for a September theft case out of Libertyville. Because of that case, the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office attempted to detain Banda until trial.

Lake County Judge Mike Nerheim said the current charges did not warrant detention because Banda had a lack of criminal cases against him in the past decade before the September theft charge.

Additionally, Nerheim stated that there were no concerns that Banda posed a flight risk and would not return to court.

Nerheim did criticize the fact that no battery charge was filed against Banda when he bit the athletic trainer’s thumb.

Banda was ordered to return to court on all dates, abstain from drugs or alcohol and have no contact with the College of Lake County or the athletic trainer.

Banda is due back in court on November 26 for a preliminary hearing.