While on electronic monitoring for allegedly assaulting a suburban police officer, a man is now in custody after prosecutors claim he attempted to rob a CTA passenger in Lakeview using a sledgehammer. He reportedly assured the police that he would be released promptly.
On April 22, 24-year-old Tyrone Widerman faced charges of aggravated battery against a peace officer for allegedly striking a Forest Park police officer in the face. He was also charged with damaging a phone used by detainees to make calls. Under Illinois’ SAFE-T Act, neither charge warranted detention, leading Judge Ralph Meczyk to release Widerman on electronic monitoring, as noted in court records.
Prosecutors report that on May 30 at around 1:30 p.m., Widerman allegedly committed another offense on a CTA bus in the 800 block of West Irving Park Road. A 24-year-old man and his girlfriend observed Widerman staring at them. He allegedly approached the man, demanded his headphones, and reached for what the victim believed was a firearm with a wooden handle.
The couple, fearing for their safety, attempted to leave the bus. Widerman allegedly grabbed the man’s headphones, leading to a struggle, during which the girlfriend managed to escape. The man eventually freed himself and retained his headphones.
Once off the bus, Widerman is said to have brandished a sledgehammer with a wooden handle, swinging it toward the victim before securing it back in his waistband and causing panic among other passengers. He then exited the bus and fled, according to prosecutors.
Police officers responding to the incident found Widerman nearby but claimed he fled into an alley while clutching his waistband. They later recovered a sledgehammer resembling the one from CTA surveillance footage in a nearby trash can.
Body camera footage from the police allegedly recorded Widerman asserting that he would be released soon.
“You’re arresting me for a misdemeanor. I’m going to get right back out. S*** is a misdemeanor. You’re arresting me for getting off the bus. What do I have on me? I don’t have s*** on me,” he reportedly said.
When an officer mentioned the hammer, Wideman allegedly replied, “What hammer? You’re lying dude. Anybody can have on the same clothes. I can beat the case.”
Contrary to his expectations, Wideman remains detained. Judge Ankur Srivastava decided to hold him on an attempted armed robbery charge, with prosecutors arguing that he poses a threat to public safety. The judge cited the presence of six witnesses, alongside the victim, as noted in court documents.
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