A man has been charged with allegedly assaulting a nanny and pulling her to the ground while she was pushing a stroller with a one-year-old child in the South Loop, causing the stroller to roll toward traffic.
The incident occurred just before 9 a.m. on June 16 in the 1600 block of South Michigan Avenue, according to police. A 53-year-old nanny was pushing the stroller north when Brandon Henderson, 29, identified later, grabbed her sweatshirt sleeve, prosecutors stated. The nanny ignored him and continued walking.
Shortly after, Henderson reportedly approached from behind, wrapping one arm around her shoulder and neck while using his other hand to grope her, as detailed in a detention filing. Pulling her to the ground caused her to lose control of the stroller, which then moved toward the traffic lanes on Michigan Avenue, the filing indicated.
The nanny screamed for assistance and kicked at Henderson to free herself. Bystanders, including one who shouted from a sixth-floor apartment window, intervened, as per prosecutors. Henderson allegedly left the woman and escaped through an alley.
Witnesses alerted a patrol car, prompting officers to search the vicinity. They located Henderson nearby, matching the clothing description provided by witnesses, police said. He was arrested after the nanny identified him as the assailant, according to authorities.
The nanny was not seriously hurt and refused medical treatment, though she was reported to be “extremely frightened,” the detention filing noted. The child was unharmed.
Judge D’Anthony Thedford ordered Henderson to be held on charges of criminal sexual abuse by force and aggravated battery in a public setting, based on court records.
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