Police: Man flashed gun, badge to break friend out of hospice

A private investigator who flashed a gun and badge to remove a sick friend from a Long Grove nursing facility is facing several felony charges, Lake County authorities said Friday.

David Rahimzadeh, 54, of the 100 block of Navajo Trail in Buffalo Grove, appeared in bond court Friday, where Judge Paul Novak set bail at $500,000 on weapons and battery charges.

According to prosecutors, the incident took place Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Avantara Long Grove facility in the 12600 block of Checker Road.

Authorities said a hospice patient there, a 59-year-old man, called Rahimzadeh, who is a friend, and asked for help to leave the facility. However, a member of the patient’s family who has power of attorney did not authorize the patient leaving the center, police said. The man was also not medically cleared to leave, police said.

Rahimzadeh, police said, arrived at the center and said he was there to remove the patient from the hospice wing. When staff said he lacked permission, he then opened his coat to show a badge and his gun, and said that he was a detective, according to police.

Staff called 911 when Rahimzadeh refused to provide further identification, police said.

He then went to the patient’s room and escorted him out of the facility. Rahimzadeh allegedly elbowed a nurse in the chest when she attempted to stop him, police said.

He and the patient the left in Rahimzadeh’s car, but staff relayed the license plate to police who went to Rahimzadeh’s Buffalo Grove home and took him into custody. The patient was there, and he was brought back to the medical facility, police said.

The judge ordered Rahimzadeh to turn over his badge and other private investigator ID if he posts bond. Police took possession of his handgun.

Prosecutors said Rahimzadeh has proper credentials for carrying a firearm, but only when acting in his capacity as a private investigator. According to the state records, Rahimzadeh has been a licensed private investigator since 2015.

He is due back in court Wednesday.