U.S. Marine veteran Michael Adams stopped an attack on a woman who was jogging on the Lakefront Bike Path when he saw a young man assaulting her. (Credit: CBS)
Reporting Susanna Song
Updated 02/14/13 – 10:02 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) – A Marine veteran came to the aid of a woman who was being assaulted on the Lakefront Bike Path on Wednesday.
CBS 2’s Susanna Song reports 24-year-old Michael Adams, an East Side resident, was driving south on Lake Shore Drive near 63rd Street Wednesday afternoon, when he saw a young man apparently trying to rape a woman along the lakefront.
He said he thought it was odd when he saw the woman running in typical jogging gear, and a man running right behind her in jeans.
“I thought it was kind of weird, because he’s right behind her with his hands up,” he told WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya.
Adams made a U-turn, then saw the man grab the woman, knock her to the ground. Police said the attacker also tried to force the woman’s clothes off.
“By that time, he was already attacking her, throwing her on the ground. And I’m protective of my family, so I wish somebody would do the same for my girlfriend or my family,” he said.
The attacker tried to run away when he saw Adams coming toward him, as the victim tried to fight him off.
“He started running away, and then that’s when I pulled up next to him, and I got out, and held him till the police came,” Adams said.
The 36-year-old woman escaped unhurt.
“She ran out into traffic, and stopped some other cars, and then the other cars came and helped her,” Adams said. “And then another car pulled up behind me and helped me until the cops came.”
Adams said he was interviewed by police and Cook County prosecutors about the attack.
Thursday morning, police charged 24-year-old Brandon Williams of Calumet Park with one count of criminal sexual abuse. Williams is a registered sex offender. He was scheduled to appear for a bond hearing Thursday afternoon.
Police were investigating whether Williams was connected to any other sexual assaults.
