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| Victim: CTA emergency button failed. Photo: Chicago-L.org. |
The incident occurred December 29, 2010, around 12:30 a.m., as a Red Line train approached the Howard "L" station at 7519 North Paulina Street in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood.
The victim and two friends were riding a northbound CTA train, when an African-American man exposed himself and started masturbating right behind the victim's head.
According to the victim, she immediately pushed the emergency panic button. The train did not stop moving and the conductor never responded, said the victim.
When the train pulled into the Howard station, the woman told CTA security about the incident on the train. The victim told Chicago News Report, CTA security had no idea how to handle the situation and Chicago police officers discouraged her from filing a police report.
"...the police told me that if he didn't touch me then there was really nothing I could do about it and filing a report wouldn't be helpful," said the frightened woman.
The offender is approximately 30 to 40-years-old, clean shaven, has a dark complexion, short curly hair, and is approximately 6'2". He was last seen wearing a black baggy coat (not puffy) with a white t-shirt underneath and white pants.
CTA security reportedly told the victim, passengers have reported this offender before.
Clearly, CTA needs to do more to keep their passengers safe.
a woman gets sexually assaulted on a cta train and the cops say there ain't nothing they can do about? great!
ReplyDeleteYou'd be surprised how many woman are sexually assaulted on CTA trains and buses. Not so much the buses but the trains are really bad. I don't feel safe on them.
ReplyDeleteI would take a taxi BEFORE I'd ride the trains. There are no cameras, way too many cars at night..hey there's a way for the CTA to save some money..cut back on the amount of cars on the trains at night, that way there will be strength in numbers, no security and the CTA could care less about our safety. It may take a lot longer, but the buses are where I feel safe. The CPD telling this woman NOT to file a report just sent a message to all the deviates out there and gave them a free pass to violate women. I hope this women filed a complaint with the Captain of that precinct(24) about those officiers. "Serve and protect"? Doesn't seem like either one of those were done.
ReplyDeletetowanda, it's been years since I rode a CTA train. I avoid them at all cost, all hours.
ReplyDeleteI think the trains are shorter during the so-called owl hours. When I used to ride the trains in the 80s and 90s, the late hour trains were only two-cars long. But, back then, there were at least two CTA employees on the train. One to drive the train and one to call the stops and open the doors for the passengers.
At certain times, I only ride certain trains for specific places. Most of the time, I ride the bus.
ReplyDeleteRudy, I don't blame you. Riding the trains at night isn't a good idea. Especially if you are alone.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I especially try to avoid riding trains through tunnel stops, which seem to have "a lot" of mysterious fires and bomb scares.
ReplyDeleteThe CPD do not want to file reports for public indecency. I had to go to the police station to force someone to file a report. I suggest all women contact the organization Hollaback to expose the CPD's refusals to protect us.http://www.ihollaback.org/about/
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking a lot about this travesty caused by the CPD's lack of concern for this woman and their flippant attitude about complaints about this guy before. Whoever those cops were, they should be suspended for NOT DOING THEIR JOB! They "SERVE & PROTECT" remember. They can give a ticket out for pissing in an alley but not for exposing yourself on the CTA? I guess they "pick & choose". No wonder the criminals are preying on us all! Shame on the those cops. Had it been me, they guy may well have lost the family jewels..such as they are. Can you imagine the pain of hitting that guys penis with pepperspray??
ReplyDelete"Can you imagine the pain of hitting that guys penis with pepperspray??"
ReplyDeletePepper spray on his wee-wee? LMAO!!!!!!
It's gotta hurt right Timothy.? Besides, it stings the "eye"... I hope there's some follow up on this and I hope the women involved in this incident take it to the higher ups. This sends a message to all perverts out there that exposing yourself to woman is a joke.
ReplyDeletesure, hit him with pepper spray, he may retaliate. You don't know if he has a knife or a gun. People may think they can react in a certain manner, but when they are in that situation you don't have time to think about what to do. Sometimes running away is better than fighting.
ReplyDeleteGreat, so we all just run away and the criminals all know that we aren't going to put up a fight, which means even more crime because we'll run?? Let's just roll up the streets at 7:00 pm as well so we can hide in the safety of our homes. Perhaps you're right, but I don't think running or turning a blind eye will stop crime, it will only make it worse. Now, if WE, the law abiding citizens were allowed to carry a weapon legally, to protect ourselves, the criminals may think twice because they wouldn't know who was or wasn't carrying. I have read that states that allow the "right to bear arms" law have seen a lowering of crimes like the ones being committed in this city, in every neighborhood, on innocent citizens. Here's what you do first with pepperspray when a pervert is exposing himself...first hit the face/eyes THAN hit the penis. I hardly think the guy is gonna do anything else other than crab his eyes and dick...oh, than you run;) Now, if someone is attacking you..hit the face/eyes and than kick them in the balls..THAN run..by the time the perpetrator gets up from rolling around on the ground.. you should be long gone;)
ReplyDeletemore easily said than done. many terrible things have happened on trains, people have been killed/raped. The train is a public necessity, there is no incentive to make changes or to spend money on safety measures. I'm not saying run and hide, I'm saying that unless the public comes together and fights the issue together, nothing will help. Taking matters into your own hands may result in something fatal. A small girl against a huge guy with a knife isn't a fair fight, even if she is carrying pepper spray. Sometimes pepper spray does not effect certain people, and can actually hurt the person using it. The victim shouldn't be told to fight, it is her choice whether or not she wants to run or hide, doesn't mean she isn't doing anything about the issue, and it certainly doesn't mean it is her responsibility to solve the issue. The CTA along with the police should be doing something about it.
ReplyDeleteHi anonymous, I agree with you on many points, especially that we all have to say something to the CTA about the lack of security. And you're right, sometimes it could back fire and I know that about peperspray. But it makes me feel like I might have a chance. Some people just sit around and wait for others to get the changes done, others are the "mouths" that get it done. I have a pretty big mouth;) Makes me mad that some people cry foul and do nothing to make changes, but it is what it is.
ReplyDeleteso i was on the train today and this same thing happened to me im 16 years old and a man pulled out his penis and started touching himself i was scared and alone and didn't know what to do i was scared if i got off the train he would follow me but then when another stop came i stood up quickly and got out i was so scared and i can't believe cta isn't doing anything to protect its passengers.
ReplyDeletePretty much everyone here should really move to the suburbs.
ReplyDeleteRide in the front car if you're so scared.