University Park Golf Club manager, employee found not guilty of aggravated battery of police chief

University Park Golf Club manager Sonia Coffee and golf course employee DeVaughn Mathus were both found not guilty Thursday of aggravated battery stemming from an altercation with the village’s former police chief in December 2021.

Will County Judge Carmen Goodmen also found Coffee not guilty of resisting arrest before even hearing any testimony from defense witnesses, that included Mayor Joseph Roudez, Trustee Karen Lewis and former village manager and director of economic development Ernstein Beck-Fulgham.

“We were hopeful for this result. Ms. Coffee has a stellar reputation,” said her attorney, Adam Sheppard.

After watching four videos of the incident and hearing testimony from police Chief Deborah Wilson, Goodmen said the case boiled down to Wilson needing Coffee’s date of birth to close out a report from a Nov. 4, 2021 incident. Goodmen said she questioned what official duties Wilson was performing that day if she only needed such information.

The videos, Goodmen said, show Wilson first talking to Mathus in a calm manner at the front of the golf pro shop, and the conversation remaining clam when Coffee came over. The video then showed Coffee turn to the door of her office with Wilson following, Goodmen said.

“No mention of an arrest. You’re walking to the office and there’s this officer behind you,” Goodmen said.

While Wilson testified she was in fear for her life because she was outnumbered and her gun was exposed, Goodmen said Coffee and Mathus did have reason to be afraid. The judge said it was a shame the video did not include audio.

“Something else went on that day and we will never know,” Goodmen said.

Wilson testified she tried multiple ways to get the information, including checking state and national databases and calling Beck-Fulgham. She said it is police protocol to get detailed information of all people listed in a report.

Wilson said Coffee and Mathus were not suspected of a crime.

At the golf course, Wilson said she saw Coffee’s vehicle in the parking lot. The front door was locked, Wilson said, so she entered the facility through an unlocked back door.

She said she first talked with Mathus, who told her Coffee was not available. After a short time, Coffee walked out of her office, Wilson said.

Wilson said she told Coffee she needed the information to close out a report, but said Coffee did not want to provide the information. Wilson said she realized Coffee was uncomfortable with her, so as they walked toward the office, Wilson called the station on her cellphone to send another officer to come get the information.

In the doorway, Wilson said Mathus came between the two women as Coffee “quickly darted into the office.” Video played showed Mathus walking around a counter to get to the doorway and standing between Coffee and Wilson.

Wilson said she put her foot in the doorway as Coffee tried to close the door, but ended up pinned. Wilson said as Coffee fell into her while closing the door, Mathus had her arms placed on her side.

“They’ve battered me. They have me pinned,” Wilson said.

Wilson said she broke free from Mathus and tried to create distance between them. She said Coffee then used the phone to call Beck-Fulgham and Roudez.

Wilson said she placed Coffee in handcuffs and that Coffee was “passive aggressive” as she was walked out of the golf course, and did not want to put her feet into the police vehicle.

Wilson said she does not understand why her going to the golf course to get Coffee’s date of birth turned into the present case.

“I don’t understand the avoidance,” Wilson said.

Sheppard said the video showed Coffee “retreating into her office” and closing the door, which is not resisting arrest. In the video, Coffee is seen on the phone calling “government officials,” he said.

“She can’t believe what is going on,” he said.

Sheppard said case law states that being what Wilson called “passive aggressive” does not constitutes resisting arrest.

“It’s short, your honor, the evidence isn’t enough to sail a conviction,” Sheppard said.