A routine commute on Chicago's CTA train turned into a nightmare last week for one wheelchair-bound passenger. The disabled woman, simply minding her business, was allegedly targeted and sexually assaulted by a 23-year-old man. The suspect is now in custody, but during his court appearance he reportedly added insult to injury with an outrageous courtroom outburst.
It was just after 2:55 a.m. on Dec. 11 when Chicago police say they responded to a call on the 200 block of South State Street in the Loop, the city's downtown district. WGN 9 reported Rasheed Griffin, 23, was riding in the same Red Line train car as his alleged victim when they began to talk.
Prosecutors claimed during the ride, things turned physical when Griffin allegedly wrapped his legs around the victim's wheelchair and kissed her. He's also accused of groping her while making sexual advances.
Griffin allegedly randomly targeted the disabled woman, who was a stranger, before forcibly wheeling her out of the elevator at the Jackson train stop. He allegedly knocked her down and began to sexually assault her in a hallway, according to the outlet. After the woman screamed for help, a CTA ticket agent intervened.
The suspect of Calumet City was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated battery, and aggravated battery of a person with a disability, according to the Chicago Police Department. Local news station Fox 32 reported he was was arrested that same day on the 100 block of W. Lake Street.
During his hearing, Griffin not only interrupted the court, he allegedly accused the judge of lying, WGN 9 reported. His attorney instructed him to keep silent, but he allegedly became so irritated he tried to approach the bench. He was removed by deputies.
The judge, per the outlet, cited Griffin's criminal history, his courtroom behavior and the gravity of the accusation as the reason for his detainment. His next court date is Dec. 18.
This isn't the first incident in recent weeks of alleged violence on the Windy City's train system. The Root previously reported how Lawrence Reed of Chicago allegedly approached a fellow train passenger, removed "the cap off a bottle of liquid" and poured "the liquid all over the victim's head and body" on Nov. 17. Reed, 50, allegedly ignited the bottle with a lighter, according to the criminal complaint, but picked it up as it burned and used the bottle to set the woman on fire. She was immediately engulfed in flames.
The unidentified woman survived her injuries and Reed was charged with committing a terrorist attack against a mass transportation system, per the U.S. Attorney's Office. During his initial hearing on Nov. 29, he allegedly screamed to the judge, "I am guilty!"
