Suspect arrested in assault cases

Police arrested a suspect Monday night in connection with two sexual-abuse cases and a criminal sexual assault that have occurred in the neighborhood since the end of January.

The suspect has been charged with criminal sexual abuse in an incident on Feb. 20 involving a student who was taking off her in-line skates in the 5400 block of University Avenue. The suspect is accused of grabbing her from behind and grinding his body against her before fleeing.

On Feb. 26, the victim saw the suspect on the street and immediately called University Police. City police, hearing the description broadcast, arrested the suspect, identified as a resident of the 5400 block of Woodlawn Avenue with prior convictions for criminal sexual assault.

The first reported incident occurred on Jan. 29. A woman was walking through a parking lot in the 5000 block of Cornell Avenue when the offender forced her into the rear seat of a parked car and raped her. She was able to jump from the car and flee, subsequently reporting the crime to police on the North Side. On Feb. 7, in the 1400 block of East 54th Street, the offender grabbed a student, groped at her and then fled. The victims are participating in a series of lineups.