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Man Who Saw Sex Assault on Red Line Left Without Helping, Prosecutors Say

 Ronald Sparks, 34, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, kidnapping and battery.
Ronald Sparks, 34, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, kidnapping and battery.
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DNAinfo; Chicago Police Department

COOK COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE — Prosecutors said an Auburn Gresham man sexually assaulted a woman on the CTA Red Line early Sunday — ripping off her clothes and beating her as she tried to fight back.

At one point, a man boarded the train and saw the 27-year-old victim screaming for help, according to prosecutors. Instead of helping, the man then got off the train car, Assistant State's Attorney Kim Przekota said during a bond hearing Tuesday.

The accused attacker, 34-year-old Ronald Sparks, eventually ran off, leaving his cell phone behind, prosecutors said. The entire assault was captured on CTA surveillance footage, and Sparks was charged the next day after being recognized from the footage.

It all happened shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday, when the victim boarded a Red Line at the Fullerton station, Przekota said. She and Sparks were the only two people on the car.

After the doors closed, Sparks began to touch the woman's legs and tell her he was going to rape her, Przekota said. Sparks pushed the victim across the train seat, climbed on top of her and tried to take off her shorts, Przekota said.

The woman fought back, scratching and wrestling with Sparks, according to prosecutors.

During an ensuing struggle, the woman tried to cling to a pole and shout for help, Przekota said. Sparks covered her mouth, shoved her to the ground and forced her into a small enclosed compartment at the end of the car, prosecutors said.

It was there that Sparks told the victim he was a rapist before proceeding to sexually assault her, Przekota said.

When the train arrived at the North/Clybourn station, a man entered the car, saw what was happening and left, prosecutors said. Sparks then took off running and the woman reported the attack at the next station, Clark/Division, prosecutors said.

On Monday, a CTA security subcontractor spotted Sparks at the Chicago Avenue Red Line stop, according to prosecutors. Surveillance photos had been distributed, and Sparks was wearing the same outfit as the day before.

Przekota said Sparks admitted that he hit the victim, fought with her and told her he was going to rape her.

Sparks, of the 7700 block of South Throop Street, was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery to a transit passenger and unlawful restraint. He was held Tuesday on $1 million bail.

The victim had bruises on her thighs, knees and finger, as well as scrapes on her cheek, face and head, prosecutors said. Her finger is possibly broken.

Sparks was previously convicted in 2013 of public indecency for masturbating in front of a woman at the Harold Washington Library. He also has drug and assault convictions from Iowa.

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