Suspect Arrested, Charged For Groping Two Women Near DePaul
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Police have arrested a man suspected of groping at least two women near the DePaul University campus.
Michael Jocic, 37, was charged with two felonies – criminal sexual abuse and unlawful restraint – for an incident on Oct. 22 on the 700 block of West Fullerton Avenue, police said.
Jocic allegedly approached a 23-year-old woman on the street and engaged her in conversation, then gave her an unsolicited hug touched her private parts while making advances towards her, police said. The woman broke free and reported the incident to police.
Police arrested Jocic around 9:50 p.m. Wednesday in the 900 block of West Armitage Avenue, after linking him to a similar incident earlier the same day in the 2000 block of North Bissell. Police said Jocic approached a 21-year-old woman and made advances in the same manner as the Oct. 22 case, although he has yet to be charged in the Wednesday incident.
In that case, the woman also managed to get away from Jocic and reported the incident to police. She told investigators that she remembered seeing a flyer at the DePaul University security office, with a picture of a man from the October attack.
Jocic was identified as the suspect in the October case and charged in that case. The latest case remained under investigation and police said charges could be filed later.
Jocic was ordered held on $150,000 bond and a preliminary hearing was set for Nov. 18, Cook County State's Attorney's office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton said.
