Security Officer Seeks Recognition After Antioch Park Knife Attack

Clyde McLemore, a Zion resident and founder of Black Lives Matter Lake County, asked the Antioch Village Board to reevaluate how it awards police commendations after he was excluded for his actions during a July 11 knife attack at Sequoit Creek Park.

The incident began around 9 p.m. when three suspects armed with knives confronted park patrons. Mitchell Alcock, 20, of Volo, allegedly held a knife to one victim’s neck. Nicholas Pluta, 21, of Trevor, Wisconsin, and Brian Marciniak, 21, of North Chicago, were also involved. All three men were charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a Class 3 felony, and are currently detained.

McLemore, who works as a contracted security officer through Per Mar Security Services, said he and a white colleague faced the same danger. He stated that he confronted the suspects and nearly took a knife to the body. Despite this, the Antioch Police Department issued a commendation only to the white officer. The department’s license lookup shows no registration card for McLemore, although Illinois law allows agencies to employ officers with convictions while applications are pending.

During public comment on September 23, McLemore challenged the disparity in recognition, noting that he has seen few Black residents in the park. Dr. Sandra Leconte, president of the NAACP Lake County Branch, supported his request, asking the board to reconsider the commendation and apologize to McLemore. The board did not respond to either speaker at the meeting.

Jim Moran, Antioch Assistant Village Administrator, said the police department reviewed the incident and subsequent actions. He stated that after a thorough evaluation, no additional commendations were warranted beyond the officer already recognized.

Surveillance video from the park shows the white colleague, wearing a black shirt marked SAFETY, repeatedly stepping between the attackers and a victim on the ground. McLemore, wearing a cap, is not clearly visible on that camera during the attack. A wider shot shows McLemore walking away from the gazebo as police lights appear in the distance. His colleague remained beside the victim on the ground during this time. About 10 seconds later, both men are seen with a police officer near the camera.

McLemore was elected to the Lake County Regional Board of School Trustees in 2025. He resigned as executive director of his organization in April after a physical altercation with a worker. In May, he was charged with criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct after allegedly smashing a window at an employee’s home. Court records show three prior felony convictions in Lake County, including two in 2004 and 2005 for unlawful use of recordings and one in 2010 for aggravated battery.