Tag Archives: assault

Man tried to sexually assault woman in Lincoln Park

(CHICAGO) Chicago Police are warning North Side residents after a man tried to sexually assault a woman exercising Monday night in Lincoln Park.

The 43-year-old woman was on the walking path in the 1700 block of North Stockton Drive inside Lincoln Park a few minutes before 8 p.m. when the man hit her with an unknown object and tried to sexually assault her, according to a community alert from Area Central detectives.

The woman was able to get away and call police. She was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with injuries that are not thought to be life-threatening, police said.

The suspect was described as a man 6-foot-1 to 6-foot-4 and very skinny, police said.  He had a foul body odor and spoke in a coarse manner.

Anyone with information should call police at (312) 747-8380.

UPDATE: Man charged with attempted sexual assault on Red Line train

(CHICAGO) A man accused of trying to sexually assault a woman on a CTA Red Line train on the North Side on Sunday was arrested a day later, after he started smoking on a train and drew the notice of a security guard.

Ronald Sparks, 34, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault for attacking the woman between the Fullerton and North/Clybourn stations, police claim.

Surveillance footage of a man suspected of attempting to sexually assault a woman on a North Side Red Line train early Sunday | Chicago Police
Surveillance footage of a man suspected of attempting to sexually assault a woman on a North Side Red Line train early Sunday | Chicago Police

The suspect and the woman were the only passengers on a southbound Red Line car when he attacked her about 5 a.m. Sunday, according to police. Authorities later released a surveillance photo of the man.

Sparks was arrested about 1:45 a.m. Monday in the 800 block of North State Street, after an Action K-9 Security agent saw that he matched the description of the suspected attacker, police said.

The agent first noticed Sparks because he was smoking inside a CTA train car, police said.

Sparks, of the 7700 block of North Throop, was also issued a municipal ordinance violation for smoking on the CTA, police said.

Sparks is scheduled to appear for a bond hearing Tuesday.

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Police warn of series of violent assaults on women in South Loop

(Chicago)  Police are warning women of recent series of violent assaults and robberies in the South Loop.

In each incident, at least one man approached a woman from behind, pushed or punched her in the face, knocked her to the ground and then took her purse, cellphone or case, Area Central detectives said in a community alert.

The robberies happened in the:

—1500 block of South Wabash at 9:12 p.m. on Jan. 13;

—1500 block of South Indiana at 10:30 p.m. on Jan. 16;

—1900 block of South Indiana at 7:28 p.m. on Jan. 23; and

—1600 block of South Prairie at 8:12 p.m. on Jan. 27.

The suspect or suspects are of two different age ranges— 18-20 or 30-35, police said. He is described as 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-10, and 150-200 pounds.

Victims in two of the attacks described the suspect as a black man, but in two others he was of an unknown race, police said.

Police advise women to be aware of their surroundings and report suspicious behavior immediately. If confronted by an assailant, victims should remain calm, and never pursue a fleeing attacker.

Remember any unique physical characteristics of the assailant, call 911 immediately, and if approached by a witness request contact information.

Anyone with information should call detectives at (312) 747-8384.

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