A man who was already on electronic monitoring for allegedly punching a suburban police officer is now detained after prosecutors said he tried to rob a CTA passenger in Lakeview while armed with a sledgehammer, then confidently told cops he would “get right back out.”
On April 22, 24-year-old Tyrone Widerman was charged with aggravated battery of a peace officer for allegedly punching a Forest Park police officer in the face. He was also charged with breaking the phone detainees use to place calls while in custody. Neither charge is detainable under Illinois’ SAFE-T Act, and Judge Ralph Meczyk released Widerman on electronic monitoring, according to clerk of court entries.
According to prosecutors, Widerman struck again at about 1:30 p.m. on May 30 aboard a CTA bus in the 800 block of West Irving Park Road: A 24-year-old man and his girlfriend were riding the bus when they noticed Widerman staring at them, prosecutors said. Widerman allegedly approached the man, demanded his headphones, and reached into his waistband while gripping what the victim believed was a firearm with a wooden handle…