Man sought for attempting to sexually assault woman on CTA Blue Line train
Chicago police are asking for the public's help with identifying a man they said attempted to sexually assault a rider on a CTA Blue Line train on Saturday.
It happened on the train between the Cicero Avenue and Austin Boulevard stops. The time of the incident was not released.
Police said a woman was traveling westbound on the train when the suspect approached her while touching himself and making sexual comments. He then attacked and attempted to assault the victim sexually.
Police said the suspect exited the train at the Austin Boulevard stop and fled in an unknown direction.
The incident comes as the Cook County State's Attorney's Office introduced a new plan to combat crime on public transportation. It also comes more than a week after another woman was groped while riding a CTA Red Line train. That person has yet to be arrested.
It's those incidents that sexual assault advocates said a new county-wide task force could help follow up and prosecute those suspects. Right now, there are 36 assistant state's attorneys and investigators undergoing training.
This past week, members of the state's attorney's office passed out flyers to alert CTA riders of their new task force.
"We recognized that while crime is down in the City of Chicago, we are not seeing a decrease on the CTA or in domestic violence," said Cook County State's Attorney's office director of community engagement Monique Shelton.
The state's attorney's office said its staffers are undergoing training with the Chicago Transit Authority and Chicago police to better prosecute. They said they plan to push for pretrial detention and prohibit the person from returning to the stops where they are accused of committing crimes.
"It immediately sends the message that we care about sexual assault victims, that we are not going to tolerate this kind of behavior, and if you commit these acts, you will be detained and prosecuted," said Jason Wynkoop with the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center.
He said the state's attorney's office needs this kind of collaboration and partnership to hold these suspects accountable.
"It also creates a survivor-centered environment where people who have been victims of these kinds of crimes feel that they can come forward," he said.
While the Trump administration has threatened to withhold CTA funding, the agency said they are increasing police patrols on the system by 75%, and the Cook County Sheriff's Office plans to put deputies on trains 4,400 hours a month.
As for the suspect, he was described as a Black man between 40 and 49 years old, standing at 5-foot-6, with a medium build, short black hair, a full beard, and last seen wearing a black jacket unzipped, a plain white t-shirt, dark jeans with red and blue bandanas hanging out of the rear pockets, and white gym shoes.
Sexual assault advocates say if you are in an uncomfortable situation on the CTA, first trust your instincts, find someone in uniform if possible, and report it as soon as possible.
CBS News Chicago reached out to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office about the incident and is waiting to hear back.
Anyone with information on the suspect's whereabouts is asked to contact Area 4 detectives at 312-746-8251 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com, using reference number JK222502.