Arrest Made in Assault of Security Guard

May 16, 2017
Chicago police say they have arrested a man caught on video punching a female security guard at a River North condo building over the weekend.

CHICAGO -- Chicago police say they have arrested a man caught on video punching a female security guard at a River North condo building over the weekend.

Detectives were questioning the man Tuesday morning, police said, but no charges have been announced.

The early Sunday attack was captured by surveillance cameras at the entrance of the building in the 600 block of North Franklin Street.

The video shows the guard, Zoa Stigler, walking up to a man after he sat down on the sidewalk and leaned against the building just before 2 a.m. Sunday.  Stigler said she checked on whether the man needed help and then called Chicago police.

Stigler is seen on the video bringing out a bucket after the man vomited.  Shortly afterward, another man and two women showed up and Stigler said she told the four to leave.

The man who had been sitting down threw a water at Stigler, then dropped the bottle and punched her in the face.

"When he threw the water, I was shocked," Stigler told WGN-TV.  "I don't even know what made me walk up to him."

The man's friends appear to have seen what happened, but they all walked away with the unidentified man.

"Why would you hit a human being in the face that is trying to assist you, trying to help you?" Stigler said.

Stigler said the punch caused injuries to her nose and eye.

The president of the building's condo association has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for her expenses.  The initial goal was $5,000, then raised to $15,000 and then to $20,000 after donations poured in.

By mid-day Tuesday morning, more than $10,000 had been raised.

One owner of a condo in the building wrote, "My friend is a really good lawyer and said he will represent her pro bono."

Asad Khan, who created the GoFundMe page, said Stigler began working there about two months ago.  She initially declined any financial help when he brought it up Sunday.

“She said, ‘Oh no, no, no,’ ’’ according to Khan.  

But Khan said he spoke to her again on Monday, telling her he was going ahead with the page "because we are getting so many people who want to help.’’

“She needs surgery on her eye,’’ Khan said. “He fractured her right eye socket and the bridge of her nose."

Khan called Stigler an "exemplary" worker and an "amazing" person.  “Amazing person that she is, she actually cleaned up that guy’s vomit before she went to the hospital," he said.

The building acquired the surveillance system just a week ago. “I didn’t get it to catch anything like this,’’ he said. “Nothing like this has ever happened.’’

Photos from the video have been posted throughout the building. “We’ve shared it everywhere with all our residents,’’ he said. “Everybody is on the lookout for this guy.’’

Copyright 2017 Chicago Tribune 

Tribune News Service

Sponsored Recommendations

Build Your Real-Time Crime Center

March 19, 2024
A checklist for success

Whitepaper: A New Paradigm in Digital Investigations

July 28, 2023
Modernize your agency’s approach to get ahead of the digital evidence challenge

A New Paradigm in Digital Investigations

June 6, 2023
Modernize your agency’s approach to get ahead of the digital evidence challenge.

Listen to Real-Time Emergency 911 Calls in the Field

Feb. 8, 2023
Discover advanced technology that allows officers in the field to listen to emergency calls from their vehicles in real time and immediately identify the precise location of the...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Officer, create an account today!