A 44-year-old man was arrested Friday after punching four women in the face, seemingly at random, near Harold Washington Library in the Loop.
Paramedics were called about 8:26 a.m. to State Street and Ida B. Wells Drive, according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
Four women were taken in good condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Langford said.
“We started at the library and picked up the patients from there,” Langford said.
The man was punching the women at “random,” and may have struck between five and 10 of them, according to a preliminary report from Chicago police. They had bloody noses and other facial injuries, Langford said. The man was unarmed.
"It's unnecessary," said Yana Hunt, who works in the Loop. "What would be a reason ti hit a woman in the face?"
Following the seemingly random incidents, people are urging others to be aware of their surroundings, especially in the Loop.
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"I understand they can only do so much, but I feel like we can buff up a little more," Columbia College student Alioya Hall said, referring to police. "...I walk to class everyday knowing any moment, someone can swoop me up."
Police said the suspect was arrested in the 400 block of South State Street.
He was arrested for a similar incident at the Blue Line CTA Halsted station platform Feb. 21, and charged with a misdemeanor count of battery, police said.
He allegedly slapped a 42-year-old man in the face.
