Chicago’s hotel workers have had their hands full lately.
Rock-bottom room rates, offered by owners who are desperate to fill rooms during the COVID pandemic, are drawing large parties that police have linked to shootings and other violence downtown.
While authorities have tamped down the violence by sharply increasing police patrols in the area, hotel workers still have their hands full with other issues.
Hotel manager recovering
A River North hotel manager is recovering after a would-be purse thief punched her in the face and knocked her to the ground Thursday evening, according to police.
The man walked into ACME Hotel, 15 East Ohio, around 10:40 p.m. and tried to take a woman’s purse, police said in a report. But the manager, a 31-year-old woman, saw what he was doing and ordered him out of the building.
As she followed the man to the exit, he turned around and punched her in the face, causing her to fall and strike her head on the floor, police said.
An ambulance transported the woman to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. A source with knowledge of the situation said she suffered a broken nose and has a concussion. Northwestern listed her in good condition.
Police said the offender is a Black male between 25- and 30-years-old who stands 5’10” to 6’1” tall and has dreadlocks. He was reportedly wearing a gray sweater with blue jeans.
Bogus Benjamins
Managers at the Godfrey Hotel, 127 West Huron, summoned police Thursday morning after a housekeeper found about $5,000 worth of counterfeit $100 bills in a room.
A police spokesperson said, “a large stack of U.S. currency, suspect counterfeit,” was found in a guest room after check-out time. Responding officers took possession of the funny money.
Area Three detectives are investigating the matter, the spokesperson said.