A Willowbrook man is being held in custody after police say he groped and tried to sexually assault multiple women in Downers Grove, Hinsdale, and Darien over the span of about a week, including one woman who was walking with an infant on a path. Authorities say he was arrested while under surveillance and is due back in DuPage County court on Dec. 8.
Charges And Alleged Pattern
Kwame Koranteng, 31, of Willowbrook, faces one count of attempted criminal sexual assault, two counts of aggravated battery in a public place, two counts of aggravated battery to a person over 60, and one count of criminal sexual abuse, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, as reported by CBS Chicago. Prosecutors say the complaints describe a similar pattern in each case: victims grabbed from behind or otherwise touched without consent across several suburban locations.
The Daily Herald reports the first known incident was recorded on Nov. 7 in Downers Grove. A woman walking on Brookbank Road told police a man in a Toyota Corolla parked nearby, ran up behind her, passed her, then turned around and grabbed her buttocks while asking if "she can have sex" before driving off. Investigators later connected that account to other delayed reports from nearby suburbs.
On Nov. 10, Hinsdale police received a delayed report from a woman who said she was walking along a path near 59th Street with a six-month-old child when someone grabbed her from behind and reached down to touch her over her clothing, according to ABC7 Chicago. Police said the woman screamed, and the suspect ran off.
Surveillance Led To Arrest
Darien police later took a delayed report that a man followed a woman into the lobby of her apartment building on the night of Nov. 13 and grabbed her by the buttocks, authorities say. Prosecutors linked that complaint with others in the area, prompting detectives to zero in on a vehicle tied to the suspect and keep the investigation rolling across jurisdictions, CBS Chicago reports.
While conducting surveillance on Nov. 14 in the 7300 block of Fairmount Avenue in Downers Grove, officers said they watched the suspect get out of his vehicle and approach a woman who was with her grandchild. When the woman bent down to pick up the child, he allegedly grabbed her buttocks and tried to wrap his arms around her before she pushed him away, according to the Daily Herald. Police say he ran back to his car, where officers were waiting to take him into custody. Authorities noted that the woman was over 60, which they say is reflected in the aggravated battery charges.
A judge ordered Koranteng held in jail pending further court proceedings, and his next appearance is scheduled for Dec. 8 in DuPage County, according to ABC7 Chicago. Prosecutors have not offered additional public comment beyond outlining the charges.
Detectives from several suburban departments, along with the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, continue to investigate. They are asking anyone with information, including bystander video or eyewitness accounts, to contact local police. Residents in the affected communities told reporters they were rattled by the series of complaints, and officials emphasized that reporting suspicious behavior helps them determine whether more victims have not yet come forward.
