Lindenhurst Police Officer Accused of Threatening to Kill Wife, Harm Children in Domestic Abuse Case

By Aidan Christion

LAKE COUNTY, IL — A Lindenhurst police officer has been placed on leave following his arrest in Wisconsin, where he faces domestic abuse-related charges tied to allegations of violence and threats against his wife and children.

Robert J. Holbach, 48, of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, was charged in Kenosha County with:

– Battery with a domestic abuse modifier – Disorderly conduct with a domestic abuse modifier

The Pleasant Prairie Police Department confirmed that a report was taken at its station on Saturday regarding a domestic abuse incident involving Holbach.

According to a criminal complaint, Holbach is accused of physically attacking his wife and one of his children, while also making repeated threats of extreme violence.

The victim told police she lives with Holbach and their three children, ages 5 to 11, and reported that he had:

• Pushed her into a car
• Grabbed her forcefully
• Told her he was going to kill her

She also reported that Holbach allegedly threatened to drown their children in a bathtub and shoot her in the face, including statements made in the weeks leading up to the incident.

Officers noted the woman appeared visibly shaken, nervous, and emotional while making the report. She told police she had been afraid to come forward because Holbach is a police officer and feared reporting him would make the situation worse.

The victim told authorities she had experienced abuse for approximately 17 years, beginning just months into their relationship. She said she had been documenting incidents in a personal journal as she considered leaving him.

The complaint outlines multiple incidents, including one that occurred on Thursday when the family was preparing to leave for an outing.

Holbach allegedly became enraged when he was not included in plans, followed his wife outside, and screamed at her, threatened to murder her, Grabbed her wrist tightly, causing pain, and Chest-bumped her during the confrontation.

Later, he allegedly told her he keeps buying things so he does not “shoot her in the face”, and warned that if she left with one child, the others might not be there when she returned.

The complaint includes multiple allegations involving the couple’s children.

According to the victim, Holbach allegedly threatened to drown the children in a bathtub two weeks prior, On March 26, he allegedly called her and told her to come home before he carried out that threat. He reportedly spanked their oldest child so hard it left a large welted handprint. He allegedly grabbed one child by the neck during a prior incident in Florida.

In another incident, Holbach is accused of screaming at a child, calling him “fat and disgusting”, Yelling directly in his face to “STOP EATING”.

The victim also reported that Holbach threw items at her during one of the confrontations.

Holbach is a more than 22-year veteran of the Lindenhurst Police Department.

In a statement, the department said it is aware of “concerning allegations” involving an off-duty incident outside its jurisdiction.

“Pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement, Village policies, and due to the nature of the allegations, the Lindenhurst Police Department is placing this officer on leave from the agency until a thorough internal investigation is completed.”

Holbach was taken into custody Saturday and appeared before Kenosha County Commissioner William Michel, who set a $650 cash bond.

He has since been released and is scheduled to return to court on May 8 for a pre-trial conference.