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Man Held Without Bail in Baseball Bat Beating of Cop

By  Erin Meyer and Emily Morris | August 28, 2013 7:19am | Updated on August 28, 2013 1:08pm

 Tythia Thigpen, 29, of the 5700 block of South Winchester Avenue.
Tythia Thigpen, 29, of the 5700 block of South Winchester Avenue.
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Chicago Police Department

CHICAGO — A man was held without bail after prosecutors said he used a metal baseball bat to beat a Chicago police officer who was trying to stop an attack in West Englewood Saturday.

Tythia Thigpen, 29, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery to a peace officer and aggravated battery using a deadly weapon.

The officer was in the 5700 block of South Winchester Avenue while on traffic patrol when he saw a large group fighting in front of a home about 12:40 a.m. Saturday, Assistant State's Attorney Heather Kent.

The police officer, who was working without a partner, called for backup before he got out of his marked squad car and told the crowd to break it up, Kent said in court Wednesday.

Then, a witness in the group saw Thigpen repeatedly strike a woman with a metal baseball bat, Kent said. When the officer stepped in and tried to stop the attack, Thigpen turned the bat on the uniformed officer and hit him at least two times in his head, Kent said.

A different witness heard Thigpen yell "F--- it" as he raised the bat and slammed the officer with it, according to Kent.

After the beating, responding officers found the policeman in a "pool of blood," trying to remain conscious, Kent said.

He was taken to Stroger Hospital in serious-to-critical condition. On the way to the hospital, the officer suffered a seizure, Kent said. He also suffered bleeding on his brain and bruised ribs, Kent said.

Fraternal Order of Police spokesman Pat Camden said earlier this week that the officer's condition was improving, but an update on his condition was not available Wednesday.

Muliple witnesses identified Thigpen as the man who beat the officer, and a bat was found at the scene, Kent said.

Thigpen, who lives on the block where the attack happened, was ordered held without bail by Cook County Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil.