Northwest Side Man Faces More Serious Charges After City Hall Incident

CHICAGO (STMW) -- More serious charges have been lodged against a man who allegedly yelled a profanity targeting Mayor Richard M. Daley as he was leaving City Hall for the last time Friday, May 13, police said.

A Chicago Police officer was "grazed" by a CTA bus while chasing the suspect in the Loop that afternoon.

Janusz Kopycinski, 30, of 6569 W. Wellington Ave., has been charged with felony aggravated battery to a police officer, according to police.

He was initially charged with three misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, two counts of disorderly conduct and one count of reckless conduct, but the misdemeanors charges were dismissed by the Cook County State's Attorney's office and were upgraded Saturday to the felony. police said.

Kopycinski was arrested on Friday at 3150 W. Flournoy St. after a court appearance and he is expected to appear in court Sunday.

On May, 13 about 4:45 p.m. in the 100 block of North LaSalle Street, 30-year-old Kopycinski allegedly yelled "f - - - the mayor,'' and was also spitting at people, police said.

He tried to run away and officers gave chase. As police were in the process of "grabbing'' him, one male officer was struck and "grazed" by a CTA bus that was northbound on LaSalle Street,according to police.

That officer was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital with non life-threatening injuries and Kopycinski was taken into custody at 5:02 p.m.

Kopycinski was also arrested in 2007 for battery to police.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

In:
• Chicago Transit Authority
• Chicago Police Department