Officials say that an attempted abduction in Chicago’s West Loop on Wednesday morning was thwarted when an onlooker who was walking his dog confronted the suspects, causing them to flee the scene.
“I’m grateful I could be there, really grateful,” the man, who chose to remain anonymous, said.
According to authorities, the incident occurred in the 200 block of South Sangamon Street at approximately 7:26 a.m. Wednesday.
A 30-year-old woman was on a sidewalk at the location when a van pulled up to her, and a person got out of that vehicle.
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The male suspect then grabbed the woman’s shoulder and attempted to guide her back toward the van, with three other men waiting inside, according to police.
“All she said was ‘they said to me hey baby, you’re looking pretty good’ and they tried to grab me and pull me in,’" the dog walker said.
As the situation unfolded, the anonymous onlooker saw what was going on and confronted the suspects, causing them to get back into the vehicle and to flee the scene.
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“I caught out of the side of my eye a car slowing down,” he recalled. “I yelled and I ran across the street. He backed off and tried to get back in his car, and as he did I pulled my pepper spray out and sprayed them and they drove off.”
The man says that he carries around bear spray for just such a situation, saying that he started doing so after he was mugged and no onlookers attempted to help him.
WLCO President Emeritus Katalin Ogren hailed the man's actions, but said that more needs to be done to keep residents safe.
“What happened this morning is horrific, and we were also made aware of another situation that took place over the weekend and are working with CPD on that investigation,” she said in a statement. “As a community organization, we can only do so much other than communicate with everyone, safety is an important issue for us.”
Police say no report was filed in the first incident, but neighbors who say they heard a woman scream said they aren’t sure how that situation ended.
“To be honest I was terrified,” one neighbor said. “I’m freaked out. If you’re okay, please update us online because a lot of people are concerned about you.”
According to the organization, the area was supposed to receive an additional 12 Chicago police officers for added safety patrols, but those officers have not yet been assigned to the West Loop.
