Chicago Police Detain Venezuelan Migrant for 13th Arrest in a Year
A Venezuelan migrant, Santiago Josue Baragas Rodriguez, has been detained as a safety threat after his 13th arrest within a year for attempting to rob a woman of her bike in Streeterville, Chicago.
The incident occurred in the 400 block of North City Front Place, where a 43-year-old woman caught Rodriguez using a rock to break the lock of her electric bike. She intervened, leading to a physical altercation where Rodriguez swung the rock, slapped, and struggled with her. A witness jumped in to disarm and detain Rodriguez until police arrived.
Judge Caroline Glennon-Goodman granted the state’s detention petition, highlighting Rodriguez’s history of arrests and pending cases. Despite facing three misdemeanor cases and being arrested eleven times in Chicago this year, Rodriguez continues to commit crimes against citizens in the city.
Cook County court records reveal that Rodriguez has been arrested 13 times since November 1, 2023, with several cases involving shoplifting allegations. Prosecutors dropped most cases where Rodriguez failed to appear in court, including incidents at Macy’s, Nordstrom Rack, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital parking garage.
Rodriguez’s pattern of not showing up for court dates also resulted in dropped charges for assault, criminal trespassing, and shoplifting offenses at locations like Home Depot and Nordstrom Rack.
Despite facing multiple arrests and pending cases, Rodriguez’s criminal activities continue to pose a threat to the safety and security of Chicago residents.
