On a very late evening, a young Lincoln Park woman probably assumed that a taxi would be the safest way for her to travel a less-than-one-mile route. Unfortunately, she stepped right into a dangerous confrontation.
At 11:30 p.m. Friday night, a 24-year-old woman hailed a cab near Clark St and Fullerton Ave. When she entered the taxi, she told the driver, Fred Batrony, to take her to Clark Street and Diversey Parkway.
However, according to a police release, the 55-year-old Evanston cabbie drove the car to a secluded area, got out of the driver's seat, and entered the back seat area. He then sexually abused the young woman, who tried to defend herself, police said.
After the attack, Batrony allegedly drove the woman to her destination and sped away. The victim called a friend for support and then police.
Detectives were able to get enough information from the woman to identify the cab company and the driver. Police interviewed Batrony and arrested him Saturday morning.
Batrony has been charged with aggravated kidnapping and criminal sexual abuse.
Matt Bartosik is the editor of Off the Rocks' next issue and a "between blogs" blogger.
