A man accused of multiple assaults in downtown Chicago has been ordered to remain in custody following a court decision on Friday. Authorities claim the suspect, identified as 40-year-old Marlon Miller, attacked at least six women in separate incidents.
According to the state’s attorney’s office, Miller was under surveillance via an electronic ankle monitor during some of these alleged attacks, raising questions about the effectiveness of his monitoring.
One of the victims shared her experience with ABC7, expressing frustration that her assailant was not incarcerated. “He shouldn’t have been on the streets,” she remarked.
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Sherri Bester, one of the alleged victims, recounted the incident, stating, “He yelled something at me and then struck me in my left eye.”
Bester explained that the assault occurred shortly after she exited Millennium Station. “The blow was so forceful that, despite wearing glasses, my eye still swelled up,” she added.
“He hit me hard enough that even with my glasses on my eye still did swell,” Bester said.
Bester soon learned she wasn’t the only victim. At least three women attacked in the Loop Wednesday morning, all apparently at random.
Chicago police arrested Miller on Wednesday just before 8:30 a.m. in the 100-block of East Randolph Street. Minutes earlier, he allegedly punched three women, ages 49, 50 and 62, in the Loop.
The 50-year-old victim told police she was on the sidewalk when Miller punched her in the eye for no reason, bruising her.
The 49-year-old victim told police she was walking on the same sidewalk when Miller punched her in the eye, too, damaging her $800 sunglasses.
The 62-year-old told police Miller punched her in the nose.
Miller has been charged with three felony counts of aggravated battery in a public place in connection with those attacks. Miller will be back in court for those cases on Dec. 17.
Miller was apparently placed on electric monitoring following an incident back on Oct. 11.
Miller allegedly punched two females, of unknown ages, in the face near West Randolph Street and North Dearborn Street on that day. Officers later arrested him in the 100-block of East Lake Street.
Miller has an additional prior battery incident on his record from Nov. 25.
In that incident, Miller allegedly threw a Potbelly’s cup filled with milkshake at a 30-year-old woman as she walked southbound on State Street between Lake and Randolph streets. Officers arrested Miller in front of the Chicago Theater. The case is due back in court on Dec. 26.
The electronic monitoring program has recently come under scrutiny after the fiery attack on a woman sitting on a CTA train. The suspect in that case was also on electronic monitoring.
“It’s like the judicial system is failing us,” Bester said. “It’s not working, because we’re allowing these people to be back on the streets.”
ABC7 has reached out to the chief judge of Cook County to find out why Miller had been placed on electronic monitoring.
Miller will be back in court next week.
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