Police Officer Allegedly Beaten, Strangled During Traffic Stop

Two women and one man are facing felony charges for allegedly attacking a police officer in Aurora, Illinois, after getting pulled over for a traffic stop Monday.

The Aurora Police Department announced via a press release Tuesday that 24-year-old Jennifer Taylor, 26-year-old Sheba Taylor and 28-year-old Paul Sherrod have each been charged with aggravated battery, resisting or obstructing a police officer causing injury and aggravated assault of a peace officer.

The trio was pulled over by the male police officer, whose name has not been released, at around 10:30 p.m. Monday after the driver, Sherrod, allegedly rolled through a stop sign near the intersection of Plum Street and Randall Road near West Aurora High School, Fox 32 Chicago reported.

Sherrod then pulled into a driveway in the 600 block of North Elmwood Drive along with two female companions, later identified as Jennifer and Sheba Taylor. According to Aurora police, the driver then allegedly "began yelling obscenities out the window," and one of the women got out of the car.

The police officer told the woman to get back in the car "several times," according to the press release. When she allegedly refused to comply, the unnamed officer told her that she was under arrest for obstruction.

Sherrod allegedly exited the car as well and threatened the officer that he would fight him if he touched the woman. It was unclear whether it was Jennifer or Sheba who got out of the vehicle.

When the driver was told he was also under arrest for obstructing, the man took off running, with the officer giving chase afterward. At that point, the two women followed the officer, yelling obscenities.

The officer grabbed hold of one of the women when she approached him, but she was able to "slip out of his grip," according to police. The two women allegedly "began striking the officer with closed fists and kicking his body and head," police said.

One of the female passengers then allegedly "placed her forearm around the officer’s neck and applied significant force to his windpipe, causing him to lose the ability to breathe," police said.

More police officers arrived at the scene and arrested the three individuals. The officer was taken to a hospital in the area.

Aurora Police Chief Kristen Ziman released a statement on the incident, saying, "I am at a loss of words when an officer is physically attacked from something that would have been a simple traffic ticket."

"We will not allow our city to become a place where criminals feel emboldened, and lawlessness ensues," the police chief continued.

Jennifer and Sheba were held on $50,000 bail, while Sherrod drew a heftier $75,000 bond.

All three are set to appear in court next month for separate hearings.