Rape Victim Flags Down Off-Duty Cop
CHICAGO (STMW) -- A Far South Side man was charged with sexually assaulting a woman who flagged down an off-duty police officer who said he was "in the right place at the right time'' Wednesday at a south suburban 7-Eleven.
Desmond Myrick, 32, of the 11000 block of S. Loomis Ave., was charged with criminal sexual assault and misdemeanor possession of cannabis, police said. In court Thursday, He was ordered held on $300,000 bond, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's office.
The incident occurred early Wednesday, when Myrick allegedly struck the victim in the face, telling her that she must do what he told her at an unidentified Far South Side address, according to a police report.
He allegedly sexually assaulted her and then told her they were going to a hotel. He began driving on southbound I-57, exiting near 147th Street. When the victim told Myrick she wanted something to eat, he pulled into the parking lot of 7-Eleven at 3950 147th St. in Midlothian, the report said.
When he got out of the vehicle, she asked an off-duty Midlothian police officer for assistance.
Officer Robert Fitzgerald, who was getting gas, said, "I had just gotten off work, it was one block from the station. I was still in uniform and a woman came up to me, screaming and yelling, saying she was just raped.
"He was cooperative. We took him into custody,'' he said of Myrick,
Fitzgerald insisted he did not do anything heroic. "I just happened to be lucky. I was at the right place at the right time.''
Fitzgerald detained Myrick at the store until Chicago Police arrived and arrested him about 2:05 a.m. At the Morgan Park District station, they found a clear plastic bag with cannabis inside on him.
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Myrick is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing March 16, according to the state's attorney's office.
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