Ralph Peterson leaves the Babcox Justice Center facility in Waukegan, after posting bond.

Community activist Ralph Peterson was arrested, under questionable circumstances, during the June 13 Calusinski proceedings, in what has been described as a “targeted” incident on the part of court security officers.

Peterson was charged with obstructing justice and resisting arrest, after allegedly whispering to his pastor that he felt ill.

The Rev. Eugene Robeson had earlier led a prayer circle, with the Calusinski family and supporters, prior to a hearing that could permit new evidence for Melissa Calusinski to seek a new trial on her 2011 murder conviction. In courtroom C-202, Robeson was seated next to Peterson, near the door, when the alleged statement was made.

Court Security Officer Eric Geske, of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, quickly came around the line of spectator benches and pulled Peterson’s arm, as if to eject him, which he attempted to retract. The resulting melee saw other officers forcibly lift and remove a docile Peterson from the chambers to the hallway. Peterson was heard to ask, “Why am I on the ground, what’s happening?”

“This doesn’t make any sense … this doesn’t make any sense,” Robeson said, as officers ordered him to sit down. Robeson also said he was punched in the back, while Peterson was taken to the hallway.

Judge Daniel Shanes was in the midst of his remarks to prosecution and defense attorneys when the security officers undertook their actions, and proceedings were halted for approximately 25 minutes, before resuming.

Geske had set a perceived tone of intimidation, after the court’s call to order. Spectators, some leaning forward with their hands on top of the wooden audience seats, were told by Geske, “Take your hands off my benches.” Another community activist, Clyde McLemore, lowered his head and smiled.

Geske shouted, “Something funny? If you don’t like the rules of this court, you can leave.” McLemore replied, “No, sir. I like the rules of this court fine, I just didn’t know these were your benches.”

The incident with Peterson occurred 15 minutes later.

McLemore said, “I fully believe this man was provoking some kind of response, and acting in that manner. I think Ralph (Peterson) was targeted.”

Peterson was denied a recognizance bond by Lake County Associate Judge George Strickland, and was released later in the day, after family members posted the required 10 percent, of a $25,000 bond. His next court date is July 11.

“I believe this is all about putting me on curfew,” he said. “It’s because of my association with the Lake County Coroner, Dr. Thomas Rudd, in collecting petition signatures to put him on the ballot. And this is also their way of barring me from the Waukegan city council meetings.”

Peterson has been actively volunteering to help collect signatures for Rudd’s independent candidacy bid for the Nov. 8 election ballot, which has a stated goal of 11,000 registered Lake County voter signatures. The state of Illinois Attorney General’s Office also recently sided with Peterson’s complaint regarding the Waukegan City Council violating the Open Meetings Act.

The next day, McLemore was stopped near his home by the Zion Police Department at about 8:15 a.m., June 14. He was en route to the Lake County Board meeting, and issued two traffic citations.