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Man Held On $100K Bond For Stabbing, Running Over Inflatable Rat

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 43-year-old northwest suburban man was in jail on a $100,000 bond Thursday, charged with stabbing and running over a giant inflatable rat that was apparently blocking his access to a building in the Loop in late April.

The incident occurred on April 29, according to Cook County State's Attorney's office spokeswoman Lisa Gordon. That's when some Teamsters were picketing in the area of 50 S. Clark St., and blowing up an inflatable rat, she said.

George Koukos, who was going to a moving job there, became upset that the rat demonstration was blocking his way, according to prosecutors. He got into an argument with the Teamsters over whether he was union or not, and when the picketers refused to move the rat, Koukos stabbed it with a boxcutter, then got into his truck and ran over it.

Koukos, of the 600 block of Pamela Court in Wauconda, was originally charged with a misdemeanor, but that was later upgraded to felonies, according to Chicago Police. He is charged with one felony count of criminal damage to property and one misdemeanor count of aggravated assault on public property, according to police.

At a hearing Wednesday, bond was set at $100,000 by Cook County Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr., Gordon said.

Koukos' next court date is scheduled for July 16 at North Felony Court (Br. 42), 2452 W. Belmont Ave.

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