New Chicago Police Department’s Strategic Response Team (SRT) makes arrest of two males on felony charges after bar fight
New Chicago Police Chief Earl Mayo was assigned the duty of investigating a reported incident that occurred at New Chicago Bar & Grill located at 3617 Michigan St. in Hobart.
Officers were dispatched to the scene for a report of a single gunshot being fired. Upon entering the establishment, police observed three injured parties, broken glass and large broken bottles all over the bar. Police also observed signs of struggle as items were in disarray. Chairs were flipped over, and there was blood all over the floor. After entering the bar further police was immediately approached by a white male whose face was covered in blood that appeared to be coming from an approximately one-inch gash above his right eye. Police also found a white male laying on the floor with no shirt on, bleeding from the top of his head, and gasping for air. The male explained that he was trying to break up a fight and for no known reason a white male known to him as Michael Cozart Sr. hit him in the head with a pool stick.
Officers then made contact with a white female who was also bleeding from the top of the head as well. The female explained that her live in boyfriend and an unidentified black male had a verbal altercation that continued to escalate. The female explained that the verbal altercation went on for about fifteen minutes prior to becoming physical. The female expressed that she and boyfriend requested that the bartender call 911 for police assistance several times. However, the call was never made, police said.
Officers then spoke with a white male who explained that he and an unidentified black male got into a verbal altercation that turned physical over disrespectful remarks made by the unidentified black male to his girlfriend. The male stated that the unidentified black male went behind the bar several times and grabbed bottles of beer, and bottles of alcohol and attacked him with them.
The male stated that the black male disengaged from the assault on him and left the bar. He continued to explain that the male re-entered the bar more hostile, and when confronted the unidentified black male displayed a pistol and fired a single shot into the air of the bar.
After speaking to several witnesses, police were able to identify the male to be Courtney Pratchett.
Police were able to review video that showed Michael Cozart Sr. get into a physical altercation with several males inside the bar. Cozart was seen shoving Courtney Pratchett, and another white male. Other patrons in the bar attempted to de-escalate the incident by getting in between Cozart, however, Cozart continually shoved them out the way. Cozart struck the male in the face several times with a closed fist on the video footage. Cozart then picked up a pool stick and using the thicker end struck the male on the top of his head. This caused immediate injury to the male as you can see blood coming from his head and the male falling on to the floor.
As Pratchett appeared to be exiting the bar, I observed him go over to a male and began punching him in the face with a closed fist knocking him to the floor. This altercation was broken up by other patrons. Pratchett then pointed a gun directly in a male’s face. A muzzle flash was seen and patrons scattered. A female appeared to be falling over during all this. Pratchett attempted to leave by running across the bar from the West exit door to the East exit door. Police then observed Pratchett swing the pistol twice striking a female in the top of her head, causing her pain and
injury. The female suffered what appeared to be an approximate two-inch gash.
Pratchett then exited the East door. Witnesses advised that Pratchett left in an unknown direction in a maroon color SUV possibly an XL Tahoe, or Suburban.
On Wednesday March 20, 2024, the Lake County Prosecutors Office filed the following charges:
Courtney Pratchett:
UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A SERIOUS VIOLENT FELON (a Level 4 Felony)
BATTERY BY MEANS OF A DEADLY WEAPON (a Level 5 Felony)
[BATTERY RESULTING IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY (a Level 5 Felony)]
BATTERY RESULTING IN MODERATE BODILY INJURY (a Level 6 Felony)
POINTING A FIREARM (a Level 6 Felony)
Michael Cozart:
BATTERY BY MEANS OF A DEADLY WEAPON (a Level 5 Felony)
BATTERY RESULTING IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY (a Level 5 Felony)
BATTERY RESULTING IN BODILY INJURY (a Class A Misdemeanor)
On Wednesday March 20, 2024, members of the New Chicago Police Department’s Strategic Response Team (SRT) served the arrest warrant on Courtney Pratchett without incident and transported him to the Lake County Jail. Michael Cozart was previously arrested on his charges and has since posted bond.
All suspects in this case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
