Man charged in 4 attacks, admits to molesting dozens of women on CTA, authorities say

July 03--A man charged with attacking four women at or near CTA stops admitted to "probably" molesting about 75 women on the CTA in the past two months, authorities said Sunday.

David Buckner, 22, was arrested downtown Friday on suspicion of trespassing on CTA property and was ordered held Sunday on $250,000 bond by Judge Donald Panarese Jr. at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. He faces charges of criminal sexual abuse, unlawful restraint, aggravated battery of a transit employee, aggravated battery in a public place and criminal trespassing.

At least four women have come forward to accuse Buckner of sexually attacking them at or near CTA property.

On May 15, Buckner approached an 18-year-old woman standing at a CTA bus stop near North and Damen avenues about 6:30 p.m. and asked her if she wanted a hug, prosecutors said.

Buckner grabbed her from behind after she started to walk away. He placed her into a bear hug, kissed her on the forehead and grabbed her buttocks, prosecutors said.

The victim escaped onto a bus and reported the incident, which was captured on CTA surveillance footage.

On June 20, Buckner approached a 23-year-old woman walking toward the CTA Green Line Garfield Station in Washington Park just after 10 a.m. and asked her how old she was, prosecutors said.

When the victim asked why he wanted to know, Buckner replied that he is royalty and therefore able to date girls between the ages of 14 and 18, prosecutors said.

He asked her if she wanted a hug and grabbed her buttocks from behind as she walked away from him. She later intervened when Buckner tried to harass another woman waiting for the train, prosecutors said.

Buckner then grabbed the 23-year-old by the front of her shirt and sprayed her face and body with an unknown substance after she began screaming for help, according to prosecutors. Buckner fled the scene of the incident, which was partially captured on CTA surveillance.

Police sent out a community alert a few days later in an attempt to help find the person responsible for the attack.

Later that day, Buckner approached a 29-year-old woman who was climbing the stairs to the Damen Blue Line CTA station just before 11 a.m., prosecutors said.

He asked her if she wanted a hug and and wrapped both his arms tightly around her after she declined. The woman eventually broke free, got onto a train and called 911.

On Friday, Buckner forcefully grabbed a 21-year-old woman who was taking a work break near a CTA stop at 1600 N. Damen about 10:30 a.m.

He grabbed her buttocks with his left hand and her breasts with his right hand after she refused to hug him and tried to pull away, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Buckner "kissed and licked" her face before fleeing the area. Part of the incident was captured on surveillance footage from nearby restaurants, authorities said.

He was arrested on CTA property in the 100 block of West Randolph Street about 11:35 a.m., according to a police report.

Buckner, of the 5600 block of North Western Avenue, was identified in photo and physical lineups and made admissions on all four cases, prosecutors said. He told officers he had "probably" touched about 75 women on the CTA, and that "it isn't sexual harassment unless the girls tell you no," prosecutors said. He also told officers he thinks that it is all right to touch the butt of someone of the opposite sex.

Buckner was previously arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct on June 15 after police responded to a downtown Walgreens for complaints that he was harassing female customers, grabbing and touching them, according to authorities.

Police records show Buckner has been arrested multiple times on misdemeanor charges this year:

--May 28 on a charge of disorderly conduct on CTA property at the O'Hare Blue Line stop

--May 24 on a charge of trespassing at the Grand Avenue Blue Line station

--April 20 on a charge of battery at a parking garage at 127 N. Dearborn St.

--On March 4 on a charge of battery at 180 N. Clark St.

Information on the resolution of those cases wasn't immediately available Sunday.

___

(c)2017 the Chicago Tribune

Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.