Chicago police are asking for the public's help to track down a man who, investigators say, walked up to two riders aboard a CTA train at the Belmont station in Lakeview on Monday shortly after 1:30 p.m. and punched them both in the face. The attacker ran off before officers arrived, leaving detectives to piece together what happened from witness accounts and surveillance footage.
Police Release Surveillance Images
According to officials, the suspect is a Black man between 35 and 40 years old, about 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches tall and 270 to 285 pounds, with short black hair and black facial hair. Surveillance photos show him in all black clothing, including a T‑shirt, pants and boots. He was carrying a black backpack and holding a black-and-yellow jacket.
Anyone with information is asked to call Chicago Police Mass Transit Detectives at 312-745-4447 or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTIP.com using reference numbers JK268517 or JK268519, according to CBS News Chicago.
How Riders Can Help
CTA officials say that if you see suspicious behavior on a train or platform, you should notify a CTA employee, use a station emergency call box or call 911 immediately. The agency urges vigilance and an “If you see something, say something” approach for reporting emergencies and harassment.
The CTA's safety guidance also outlines how riders can get help while on board a train or waiting at a station, including using intercoms and emergency buttons where available, according to CTA.
Police Outreach On Transit Incidents
Mass Transit detectives with the Chicago Police Department routinely push out surveillance images and tip numbers to the public, hoping someone will recognize a suspect or come forward as a witness. The images released Monday are part of a series of CPD public alerts aimed at identifying suspects in assaults and robberies on the system, as authorities continue to ask riders to share any video or eyewitness information they might have, according to CBS News Chicago.
Anyone who recognizes the man in the released images, or who captured the incident on video, is urged to contact Mass Transit Detectives by calling 312-745-4447 or by submitting a tip online at CPDTIP.com and including the reference numbers listed above.
