Cesar Ramirez charged in attempted sexual assault of postal worker in Little Village

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A man has been charged with trying to sexually assault a U.S. postal worker in her truck on Saturday, after she stopped to get gas in the Little Village neighborhood, and then carjacking her postal vehicle.

Cesar Ramirez, 44, is charged with two counts of attempted aggravated criminal sexual assault, and one count each of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery of a government employee, unlawful restraint, vehicular hijacking, and possession of a stolen motor vehicle. He appeared in bond court on Wednesday afternoon and was ordered held without bail.

Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan said a postal worker was getting gas at a gas station in the 2800 block of South Pulaski Road in the Little Village neighborhood around 9:15 Saturday morning, when she was assaulted while in her USPS truck. 

The victim was trying to get into the truck when Ramirez, who was already inside, attempted to assault her, according to Deenihan.

Police have said Ramirez pulled her by the hair, and directed her to drive to a nearby parking lot or he would kill her, according to prosecutors. Police say he then told her to move to the back of the van and removed her clothing. As she was attempting to escape through the rear of the van, he tried to beat her and removed a portion of her clothing, police said. 

The 28-year-old letter carrier fled the truck, and her assailant fled in her USPS vehicle. The victim was taken to Saint Anthony Hospital for abrasions on her neck and released shortly later. 

"Thankfully, our letter carrier is doing okay, but we note that with any violent crime in the city of Chicago, it could have gone a different way. Thankfully this one didn't, and we are very pleased that we are able to announce a quick apprehension, and quick arrest of the suspect responsible," said U.S. Postal Inspector Spencer Block.

That truck was recovered a short time later in the 4800 block of West Marquette Road, but Ramirez was gone. Police found his car still at the gas station and saw mail with his name and address on it in plain view on the ground of the car's floorboards, according to prosecutors.

Police later released surveillance images of Ramirez, and authorities said those images led to tips from three relatives of his who called police to identify him. The same family members said they'd seen Ramirez hours after the attack wearing similar clothing to what they saw him wearing on the images.

"You know postal employees go out on the street every day, rain or shine, to serve their communities, and all they're trying to do is earn an honest living. So when incidents like this happen … it is the utmost priority of the Inspection Service and Chicago Police to keep our community safe," Block said.

Mack Julian, the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers in Chicago called the incident a "perfect situation" to make an example of someone who attacked a postal worker.

"There was a time when postal police would make rounds when we were out there on assignment," Julian said. "We want to see that again."

Block was not optimistic about that plan, saying it was not possible for police to protect every postal worker at all times of the day.

Deenihan said Ramirez has eight previous arrests, and two prior convictions, including a 2001 home invasion and attempted criminal sexual assault. Ramirez is also a registered sex offender, according to prosecutors.

His next court date is scheduled for Nov. 14.