Chicago — Prosecutors say a robbery victim managed to take a picture of his attacker’s face after getting mugged on the Grand Red Line station platform on New Year’s Day. Chicago police used the victim’s picture and CTA video to track the man down.
CPD transit officers recognized Darius Clay, 31, while patrolling the Grand station on Friday and took him into custody.
Prosecutors said the victim was sitting on a bench on the platform around 3:30 a.m. on January 1 when Clay sat down next to him and struck up a conversation. Clay then stood up, punched the victim, and threw him to the ground, Assistant State’s Attorney Nicole Murphy said.
While the victim was down, Clay went through the man’s pockets and then fled with the victim’s backpack, Murphy alleged.
But the 29-year-old victim wasn’t quite done. He got up, picked up his phone, and chased after Clay. And he took a picture of Clay’s face before Clay attacked him again, Murphy said. Clay escaped on a train with the man’s bag.
He admitted to taking the bag after police arrested him on Friday, Murphy said.
His public defender said he works for a temp agency, occasionally attends church, and helps his neighbors by raking leaves and shoveling snow.
Judge Maryam Ahmad set bail at $250,000, meaning Clay must post $25,000 to go home on electronic monitoring.
