Chicago City Wire

Courtney Spinelli, a reporter for WGN-TV in Chicago, posted the details of her being assaulted twice by the same individual on consecutive days on social media, sharing how he was repeatedly released by law enforcement. 

"Usually I’m on here sharing others’ stories, but today I want to share my own to encourage everyone to be especially vigilant of their surroundings," she posted on Facebook on Thursday, July 25. "Around 1 a.m. Sunday I was walking in River North near Ohio/State. I was assaulted by a man who spat on me."

Spinelli explains how she was able to chase him down while on the phone with 911, and officers apprehended the individual and took him into custody. While the officers were taking her statement, Spinelli said "given several circumstances, including the state he appeared to be in, I decided I would give him some grace, file a report and consider charges later." However, when she went back to the same area the following day to see if there was a chance of getting video of the assault, "the same individual jumped out of a hiding place," and "slapped my buttocks hard, causing pain," before taking off as she dialed 911. 

The perpetrator, who remains unnamed due to the investigation being currently active, has been arrested "more than 80 times in Chicago since 2016 for various things not limited to battery, theft, criminal trespass, indecent exposure," she said. He was also arrested on felony charges in May of 2024 but was released in mid-July under electronic monitoring. 

Spinelli also shared an update on the evening of July 25, posting that the suspect "was arrested this morning in a theft, released, and re-arrested this afternoon in a similar assault on another victim. He is reportedly being held due to violating the terms and conditions related to a previous case."

Spinelli's full story is available on her Facebook and X account.