A 50-year-old man being questioned in Monday’s Chicago train attack, where a woman was set on fire, has a long arrest record and was previously freed by a judge after allegedly assaulting a social worker, according to a report. The suspect was released with electronic monitoring following an aggravated battery charge, despite prosecutors’ requests for detention. The report cited court documents indicating that the judge approved his release, allowing him to leave his home from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays.
The suspect, who has 22 prior arrests since 2016 and 53 criminal cases in Cook County dating back to 1993, including nine felonies that resulted in guilty pleas, was charged with aggravated battery after allegedly knocking a female social worker unconscious at a psychiatric hospital. Although two of the nine felonies led to jail time, the other cases resulted in plea agreements without incarceration. The police have not publicly identified the suspect or the judge, as no charges have been filed yet in the train attack.
On Monday, a 26-year-old woman was involved in a physical altercation with a man on a Chicago Transit Authority train around 9:25 p.m. The altercation escalated, and the suspect poured a liquid on her and set it on fire. The suspect fled when the train stopped, and the woman exited the train and collapsed on the platform. The flames were extinguished before first responders arrived. The woman was hospitalized in critical condition with severe burns, though no immediate update on her condition was available.
Authorities are investigating the incident, which has raised questions about the adequacy of bail conditions and the judiciary’s role in criminal cases. The incident has also highlighted the criminal history of the suspect and the potential risks associated with his release. While the judicial system aims to balance public safety with individual rights, the case has sparked debates about the handling of repeat offenders and the implications of judicial decisions on public safety.
Additional reports indicate the suspect was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon, following the arrest. The circumstances of the attack and the release of the suspect have drawn attention from local media and law enforcement officials, emphasizing the need for a thorough review of the court’s decision and its impact on the ongoing investigation. The incident underscores the complex interplay between legal procedures and public safety concerns in criminal cases involving individuals with extensive criminal histories.