Pilsen man accused of groping women while on scooter admitted to attacks: prosecutors

CHICAGO — A Chicago man accused of forcibly groping 4 ladies whereas using a one-wheeled scooter admitted to many of the assaults and informed investigators he focused the victims as a result of they have been carrying “one thing scorching and brief,” prosecutors stated Sunday.

Victor Manuel-Reyes, 36, of Pilsen, was arrested Friday and was later charged with felony counts of aggravated legal sexual abuse, aggravated battery in a public place and legal sexual assault, in response to Chicago police and Prepare dinner County courtroom data.

The primary assault occurred Might 11, when Manuel-Reyes grabbed a lady beneath her pants as she walked her canine on the Navy Pier flyover bridge within the 400-block of North Lake Shore Drive, prosecutors stated at his preliminary courtroom listening to. She then posted about her expertise on the app Nextdoor, the place some customers report crimes.

Manuel-Reyes then allegedly assaulted 4 extra ladies on Aug. 4, drawing the eye of the police.

In a single incident, he rode up behind a lady within the 1100-block of South State Road whereas she was strolling to the close by State Road Pink Line cease, prosecutors stated. He then allegedly pressured his hand beneath the lady’s skirt, penetrating her and touching her buttocks.

She did not see his face, however CTA surveillance video captured the incident, prosecutors stated. Photographs pulled from the surveillance footage have been then utilized in an Aug. 6 alert notifying the general public of that incident and one other on June 1 that Manuel-Reyes hasn’t been charged with.

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Manuel-Reyes groped one other girl on Aug. 4 within the 1600-block of South Blue Island Avenue, prosecutors stated. She tried to chase him and finally canvassed the world for surveillance footage that she gave to investigators.

The ultimate assault occurred that day within the 1200-block of South Michigan Avenue, the place prosecutors stated the sufferer reported Manuel-Reyes getting so shut that she felt his breath on her neck and mistook him for her fiancee coming to present her a hug. Manuel-Reyes slapped her buttocks and rode off, prosecutors stated.

He was arrested Friday at work after being recognized in a number of photograph lineups and surveillance pictures by victims and witnesses, prosecutors stated. That included a former co-worker who recognized him because the supervisor of a restaurant close to Navy Pier.

Manuel-Reyes’ scooter and a helmet that he was seen carrying have been each inventoried by police, prosecutors stated.

He recognized himself in surveillance images and and admitted to touching three ladies, prosecutors stated. He recalled approaching every sufferer as a result of they have been carrying “one thing scorching and brief,” or clothes “the lady appeared good in.”

His public defender stated Manuel-Reyes lives along with his spouse and has been working on the similar restaurant for 2 years. He has no legal background, prosecutors stated.

In setting his bail at $40,000, that means he’ll have to publish a $4,000 deposit to be launched, Decide Susana Ortiz described Manuel-Reyes as “a hazard to the group.” If launched, he’ll be positioned on digital monitoring.

Although he principally communicated via a Spanish-speaking interpreter, he made one request in English after Ortiz’s ruling.

“Can I name my spouse?” he requested.

The video within the participant above is from an earlier report.

(Source: Solar-Instances Media Wire – Copyright Chicago Solar-Instances 2022.)