Man on home surveillance video sought in connection to Lincoln Park sex assaults
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police are looking for a man caught on home surveillance video in connection to a series of sexual assault and abuse incidents in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.
There have been at least three incidents in the past three weeks in the:
- 1900-block of North Cleveland Avenue at about 11:30 p.m. on May 17,
- 2200-block of North Orchard Street at about 4 a.m. on May 25,
- 1800-block of North Burling Street at about 10:30 p.m. on May 29.
Police said the man usually approaches women from behind who are walking alone and makes sexual contact with them. He then runs off.
In the incident on North Orchard Street, home security cameras caught a man pedaling through a Lincoln Park alleyway on his bicycle in the middle of the night.
An angle from another home camera shows who police said is the same man ditching the bike nearby, then slowly creeping down a sidewalk near Orchard and Webster. He stops, ducking behind a telephone pole, and appears to be on the prowl.
Police said two young women came walking from a different direction. The home cameras catch him lunging. Police said the man shoved two women to the ground and sexually assaulting one of them.
The other woman was able to get away by kicking him in the face, police said.
The attack woke a couple from a dead sleep.
"It wasn't just a scream and went away," said Michael Slavin, witness. "It kept going and getting worse and worse and worse."
The assailant took off running with another man chasing him, close on his heels, but he got away. Slavin came outside seconds later and saw the victim face-to-face.
"She was clearly assaulted," Slavin said. "I was a little bit in shock."
"It's shocking," said Susane Nel, resident. "It's supposed to be a safe environment and you are supposed to be able to walk around freely."
"We have security. There are security guards that are in this neighborhood that we pay for," said Patty Washburn, resident. "It's really scary that they are so bold."
The suspect is described by police as in his mid-20s to mid-30s, 5;5" to 5;10", 150-170 pounds, dark hair, medium to light complexion, white T-shirt and dark-colored pants or shorts.
A surveillance image was also released of a man police believe may be connected to a sexual assault case about two weeks ago near DePaul University. In that incident, police said a man approached a woman from behind and touched her inappropriately.
RELATED: Surveillance image released of Lincoln Park sex assault suspect
In Albany Park, police are looking for a man who allegedly exposed himself to two girls last week.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Area Central detectives at (312) 747-8380.
