Man Charged in 2 Bucktown Rapes

Bond was denied Tuesday for a man charged with two sexual assaults on the Near Northwest Side, and police said they believe he may be responsible for others.

Damario McNeil, 31, of the 1900 block of South Avers Avenue, was charged with attacking a 29-year-old woman in the 2000 block of West Charleston Street at 3:50 a.m. Monday, according to a police release.

For that attack, McNeil is charged with one count each of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated armed kidnapping, according to the release.

Fortunately for police, at least two nearby surveillance cameras captured the attack.

In the second incident, an 18-year-old woman was attacked Feb. 2 at 4 a.m. in the 2300 block of West Moffat Street. McNeil is charged with criminal sexual assault, aggravated armed kidnapping and armed robbery for that attack.

The woman was walking to a CTA train station on her way to work, prosecutors said.

Police are investigating the possibility McNeil may be involved in other assaults, including some on the South Side, Shakespeare District police Capt. Marc Buslik said.

In Monday’s attack, a woman inside a home heard the screams of the victim in the alley and called 911, according to Buslik.

McNeil allegedly put a knife to her neck, dragged her into a gangway and choked her, causing her to lose consciousness, according to the captain who said when she awoke she was being sexually assaulted.

Officers Elise Middleton and Ricky Podgorny were the first on the scene and the offender apparently heard the police radio tried to flee, according to Buslik.

"Fortunately they did it the way they should. One went to the front and one went to the back. They had him cornered. It was good police work,"Buslik said.

Two other responding officers, Michael Haddad and Jesse Torres also cordoned off the area.

"Podgorny observed the offender in the alley pulling up his pants and chased the offender and Haddad spotted the suspect in the bushes," Buslik said.

He then allegedly ran, but they caught him within a block adjusting his pants. Officers made the arrest near Armitage and Damen, and recovered a kitchen knife and gloves.

Police were able to use surveillance footage from nearby businesses in both attacks, court records said.

The four officers will likely be nominated for department commendations and the woman who called 911 was also being praised, the captain said.

The suspect has a history of domestic violence, according to court records. He also had three drug arrests in the 1990s and was sent to prison for five years in 1999, the records show.

McNeil’s preliminary hearing has been set for July 7, Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokesman Andy Conklin said.

Copyright SunTimes / NBC Chicago

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