Two Men Charged with Robbing and Assaulting Red Line Passenger in Chicago
CHICAGO — In a disturbing incident, two men have been arrested and charged with robbing, assaulting, and threatening a Red Line passenger in downtown Chicago. The incident took place near the Chicago-State station in the early hours of March 8, according to a Chicago police report.
According to prosecutors, Jordan Frizell, 21, allegedly stole the victim’s phone and headset before threatening to shoot him, although no gun was seen. Dijon Pope, 24, then physically assaulted the victim by pushing him against the train doors, hitting him in the head and face, and continuing to strike him even after he fell to the ground. Frizell then reportedly body-slammed the victim before attempting to take his book bag, while Pope used a belt to strike the victim in the face and body.
The victim bravely fought back against both men on the train and at the Clark-Division platform before they eventually fled the scene. The victim was left with a bloody nose and bruises on his face as a result of the attack.
Fortunately, the police were able to apprehend both Frizell and Pope when they returned to the platform after the robbery. Frizell was found in possession of the victim’s iPhone at the time of his arrest.
Both men are facing charges of robbery and aggravated battery of a transit passenger. While Pope was initially released on an ankle monitor, he remains in custody due to an unrelated warrant. Frizell, on the other hand, was detained by the judge, who noted that he was already on pretrial release for two other incidents at the time of the robbery.
Frizell’s previous arrests include an incident on March 5 where he allegedly threatened CTA canine security officers at the Howard CTA station with a knife, claiming to have killed eleven people already. He was also arrested for trespassing at the Wit Hotel on March 3 and for misdemeanor shoplifting at Walgreens on February 24.
The repeated offenses and escalating violence exhibited by Frizell and Pope highlight the need for swift and appropriate legal action to ensure the safety of public transportation passengers and the general public in Chicago.
