A good Samaritan pinned a man to the ground after seeing him violently attack and rob a woman on Lakeview’s Southport Corridor this week, prosecutors said. Robbery charges have been filed.
The woman told police she was walking in the 3500 block of North Southport when a man grabbed her from behind and put his hand over her mouth around 1 a.m. Wednesday, June 9.
The offender threw her to the ground, ripped her purse away, then kicked her about three times in her face, Assistant State’s Attorney Darryl Auguste said during a bond court hearing.
A witness who saw the robbery in progress caught up with the attacker and pinned him to the ground. The victim, who suffered bruising and abrasions on her face, ran into a nearby store and called 911, according to Auguste.
Officers arrested 23-year-old Lawerence Sanders at the scene.
According to Assistant Public Defender Genvieve O’Toole, Sanders has lived in Chicago for about seven months, works as a restaurant server, and has no criminal background.
“This makes no sense,” Judge John Lyke said of the alleged attack.
“Luckily, a good Samaritan walks by and didn’t allow this to happen,” Lyke continued. “He didn’t pull out his cellphone and start recording everything. He took action and allegedly held this defendant for the police.”
Lyke then ordered Sanders held in lieu of $50,000. The judge said Sanders would have to go onto electronic monitoring if he posts a $5,000 deposit to get out of jail.
