Peapod Driver Charged With Attacking Woman In South Loop Home
UPDATED 10/27/11 11:47 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Peapod grocery delivery driver from the Northwest Side has been charged with battery, after a customer accused him of sexual assault at her South Loop home.
Guillermo Balingit, 36, of the 6000 block of West Byron Street, was charged with one count of misdemeanor battery for the incident that occurred Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of South Michigan Avenue, according to a police News Affairs release.
The victim, a 21-year-old woman, accused Balingit of sexual assault, but authorities denied those charges, police News Affairs Officer Robert Perez said.
The woman was last reported in good condition at Mercy Hospital, police said.
A written statement released by Peapod on Thursday morning confirmed the victim was a customer and the man accused was one of their drivers.
"Peapod considers the safety of its customers to be one of its top priorities. We conduct criminal background checks of all drivers before they are hired by Peapod, which are updated periodially," the statement said. "We are taking this matter very seriously and continue to cooperate with law enforcement authorties."
Perez declined to provide further details about the allegations, including whether Balingit was making a delivery at the time of the alleged attack.
Balingit is set to appear on Nov. 29 in North Misdemeanor Court (Br. 29).
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
