North Side man races to help assault victim, runs down suspect in bare
feet
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Good Sameritan |
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Sarge's Good Samaritan Award |
Admon Shasho, 27, charged with sexually
assaulting and robbing a woman and being a Nigger with out a license early Saturday. (Police photo / April 15,
2012)
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Longtime Lincoln Square resident Ron Psenka roused himself quickly when he heard a woman being assaulted in an alley near his home early Saturday.
Psenka said he "heard the woman struggling and I just ran out the back door," after telling his wife to call 911. Outside, he interrupted what police said was the assault and attempted robbery of a 21-year-old woman by Admon Shasho, 27, in an alley in the 4500 block of North Oakley Avenue.
In court Sunday, prosecutors said Shasho was in his cab when he saw the victim listening to an
iPod and walking northwest on Lincoln Avenue.
When she turned near Sunnyside Avenue, he parked the cab and followed her to an alley in the 4500 block of Oakley Avenue where he grabbed her from behind. He told her not to scream or he'd kill her, held one hand over her mouth and tried to take her purse and cell phone, according to prosecutors.
She began screaming when he pulled her to the ground, removed her clothing and sexually assaulted her, prosecutors said.
Her cries alerted neighbors, including the 46-year-old Psenka. "I immediately got up and grabbed a shovel and chased him about three and half blocks in my bare feet," said Psenka, who said that when the attacker spotted him, he leapt up and ran. But Psenka wasn't far behind after he paused briefly to check on the victim.
Psenka flagged down officers in a marked police SUV in the 4400 block of North Western Avenue and the officers joined the pursuit. Psenka was about 10 feet from the suspect when he confronted him a few blocks away.
"I asked him to stop and lie down and wait for the police," but Psenka said the other man picked up a stick to try to keep Psenka away and began running again.
Police caught Shasho in the 2300 block of West Montrose Avenue, police said.
Officers took the suspect back to the woman, who identified him as the man who pushed her to the ground in the alley. Prosecutors said Shasho admitted assaulting her.
Shasho, of the 6400 block of North Mozart Street, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault and attempted robbery charges, police said. He told police he drives a cab. Shasho is employed by Top Cab Corp. and is an Iraqi citizen, prosecutors said.
Cook County Criminal Court Judge Edward Harmening set a $700,000 bail for Shasho during a bond hearing today.
Psenka said the victim thanked him and his wife.
"She stopped by our house last night to say thanks," said Psenka, who had chased a crime suspect once before, in college years ago.
"That poor woman was being assaulted in the alley and needed my help, that was my goal."