Two weeks after officials issued a warning about a man following and inappropriately touching women at a North Side park, prosecutors have filed charges in the case. But, because he is not charged with a detainable offense, prosecutors did not ask a judge to keep him in custody.
Noaman Patel, 22, of the 6300 block of North Artesian, is charged with three counts of aggravated battery in a public place, allegations stemming from three separate incidents this month, including two at the West Ridge Nature Preserve.
Aggravated battery in a public place is not a detainable charge under the cashless bail provisions of Illinois’ SAFE-T Act, according to materials published by the 17th Judicial Circuit Court and a DuPage County judge.
According to police and court filings, the first assault occurred at the nature preserve, 5801 North Western Avenue, around 10:15 a.m. on August 4. A 53-year-old woman was walking in the park when a man came up from behind, grabbed her buttocks, and then fled on foot.
Two days later, on the morning of August 6, a 33-year-old woman reported being struck on the buttocks while walking in the preserve. She ran away, yelling for help as the man briefly followed her before breaking off and leaving the park, according to an initial police report.
The third incident came on August 14, when a 29-year-old woman reported that a man grabbed her buttocks in the 6100 block of North Maplewood Avenue.
Chicago cops arrested Patel this week, and he appeared before Judge James Murphy III on Thursday. Murphy released him with orders to stay away from the victims.
