Just hours before police yesterday released surveillance images of a man who allegedly stabbed and robbed a CTA passenger in the Loop this week, the offender again brandished a knife and threatened a train passenger downtown, according to multiple police sources.
The CTA surveillance images released by CPD’s Mass Transit Unit show a man brandishing a large knife as he allegedly robs a passenger on the Purple Line near Adams-Wabash around 7:18 p.m. Monday. The offender is wearing a yellow jacket over a gray sweatshirt with thick drawstrings around the hood and a white cap.
Now, CWBChicago has learned, a man who matches that description perfectly assaulted another passenger with a knife on the Brown Line at Washington-Wells yesterday morning.
According to a CPD spokesperson, a 51-year-old man was riding the “L” around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday when another man and a woman began arguing on his train car. The male suspect turned and walked toward the passenger while displaying a large knife and told him to stay seated and not do anything stupid, the spokesperson said.
The offender got off at Washington and Wells. A witness called police after seeing the man change clothes in a building on the 400 block of West Madison around 11 a.m. There, cops found the suspect’s jacket, a knife, and a phone case, according to the CPD spokesperson.
Surveillance footage shows the man then entered Union Station wearing a gray hoodie with thick drawstrings, blue jeans, a white skull cap, and black gym shoes. Police said the offender is 30- to 40-years-old, 5’7” to 5’9” tall, and 150 to 160 pounds.
During Monday’s attack, the offender stabbed a passenger, took the victim’s phone, and ordered him to surrender his lock screen password, according to a CPD bulletin.
Anyone with information about the attacker can contact Mass Transit Detective Ray Verta at 312-745-4443 or 773-664-4880. The officer can also be contacted at Raymond.verta@chicagopolice.org. The case number is JE-211014.
