A Chicago man is facing multiple felony charges for an incident that all started when he refused to pay his bus fare — and then beat up a CTA supervisor who was preparing to let him ride for free, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors charged Onay Davis, 22, with five felonies and six misdemeanors in the wake of the alleged attack on a CTA bus in Lincoln Square around 7:30 a.m. December 23.
Davis and two juveniles boarded the bus at the intersection of Western and Leland but refused to pay for their rides, prosecutors said. The bus driver summoned a supervisor who decided to let the three fare jumpers ride for free.
But when the supervisor stepped onto the bus to give Davis and his friends the good news, Davis punched him in the face and body until he fell to the ground, prosecutors said. Then, one of the juveniles jumped in to join Davis in battering the fallen supervisor, according to the state’s allegations.
Arriving officers said they saw Davis and the two juveniles circling the supervisor. Davis pushed one of the cops away and threatened the officer and their partner as they tried to protect the CTA worker, prosecutors said.
The trio fled, and Davis allegedly threatened and fought with the cops who caught up with him nearby. According to prosecutors, two officers were injured during his arrest, including one who was struck by a transport van door after Davis kicked it.
At the police station, Davis again fought with cops and a CPD detention aide as he was brought into the lockup area, prosecutors said. The detention aide and another officer allegedly suffered sprains and hand and finger injuries. The CTA supervisor suffered multiple contusions to his face and body.
Prosecutors charged Davis with three felony counts of aggravated battery of a peace officer, felony aggravated battery of a government employee, felony aggravated battery of a transit employee, and six misdemeanor counts of resisting police, according to a CPD spokesperson.
Judge Arthur Willis set his bail at $100,000. Davis must go on electronic monitoring if he can post a 10% deposit bond to get out of jail, Willis said.
In 2018, Davis received two years probation for pepper-spraying a man during a robbery attempt near Addison and Lake Shore Drive in Lakeview.
In that case, a 35-year-old man told police he was walking when two men pepper-sprayed and tried to rob him on September 4, 2017.
One of the officers spotted Davis nearby and began chasing him. As the officer rounded a corner in the 600 block of West Sheridan, he was confronted by another man who blocked his path and said, “What, you can’t catch him? You’re too slow?” which gave Davis time to slip away, police said.
Police eventually located Davis near the Gill Park Field House at 825 West Sheridan and took him into custody.
