Facial recognition tech helps cops ID Red Line robber – CWB Chicago

A man who skipped a court appearance following an alleged attack on a CTA bus driver earlier this year has been rearrested, accused of attacking and robbing a Red Line train passenger after police identified him through facial recognition technology.

Michael McKinney, 24, was apprehended on June 24 for reportedly punching a 41-year-old bus driver in the 5900 block of West Madison Street after being asked to leave the bus. The driver stated to authorities that McKinney struck him in the face, knocking him to the ground and continuing to assault him, resulting in visible swelling and bleeding near his right eye.

Despite the allegations, prosecutors did not request that McKinney be held in custody, and he was released to await trial. However, court documents revealed that he failed to appear for a scheduled hearing on July 21, leading to a judge issuing an arrest warrant.

That warrant remained active on September 14 when McKinney boarded a southbound Red Line train around 9:30 p.m. According to prosecutors, he approached a seated passenger without provocation and began punching him, causing the victim to fall. McKinney allegedly stole the victim’s backpack, which contained various work items, and exited the train at 95th Street.

Security footage from the CTA captured the attack and subsequent robbery. Detectives utilized still images from the video in a facial recognition system run by the Illinois Secretary of State’s office, which matched the suspect’s image to McKinney, prosecutors reported. Investigators then reached out to officers who had previously arrested McKinney in June and were able to confirm his identity using the CTA footage.

Judge Shauna Boliker ordered McKinney to be detained, citing both his failure to appear in court and the new robbery charge.