A North Chicago man was arrested in Vernon Hills after police say he grabbed a woman and sexually abused her in Evanston until her friend interrupted the attack.
A 20-year-old woman was entering her residence in the 800 block of Noyes Street in Evanston around 10:30 p.m. on February 27.
An unknown male subject approached her as she was in the north stairwell of the building, according to the Evanston Police Department.
The suspect grabbed the woman from behind and then covered her mouth and groped her.
The victim was on the phone with a friend who heard the attack and immediately came to her aid, police officials said.
The offender fled the scene when the friend arrived. The victim suffered minor scratches to her body.
The victim reported the incident to the police and officers interviewed her and initiated an investigation.
Police officials said the investigation led to the recovery of surveillance footage of the offender.
Images of the offender were distributed to law enforcement in the area and a member of the Northwestern University Police Department was able to identify the offender as Carlos E. Scott, 26, of North Chicago.
The investigation further revealed that a vehicle routinely driven by Scott was in Evanston at the time of the incident and that he had been at the Northwestern women’s basketball game prior to the incident, police officials said.
Scott was arrested at his place of employment in Vernon Hills last Wednesday.
He was transported to the Evanston Police Department without incident. Scott declined to provide a statement to detectives.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office reviewed the investigation and approved one felony count of criminal sexual abuse by force.
Scott has been detained and remains held in the Cook County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court again on April 18.