A man who skipped court after allegedly attacking a CTA bus driver during the summer is back in detention, accused of attacking and robbing a passenger on a Red Line train after police identified him using facial recognition technology.
Michael McKinney, 24, was arrested on June 24 for reportedly assaulting a 41-year-old bus driver in the 5900 block of West Madison Street after being instructed to leave the bus. The driver informed police that McKinney attacked him in the face, knocking him to the ground, and then proceeded to strike him, causing swelling and bleeding near his right eye.
Prosecutors did not request that the judge detain McKinney, who was released to await trial. According to court documents, he failed to appear on July 21, forcing the judge to issue a warrant for his arrest.
According to authorities, McKinney boarded a southbound Red Line train at approximately 9:30 p.m. on September 14, when the warrant was still active. He allegedly approached a seated passenger without provocation and began striking him, knocking him down. McKinney allegedly stole the victim’s rucksack, which contained work materials, and exited the train at 95th Street.
CTA surveillance cameras captured the attack and robbery. According to prosecutors, detectives sent still photos from the footage to the Illinois Secretary of State’s facial recognition program, which identified the thief as McKinney. Investigators then called the cops, who arrested McKinney in June. They also identified him using CTA footage.
Judge Shauna Boliker jailed McKinney for failing to appear and on a new robbery accusation.