A naked prisoner escaped from his guard at the Mercy Hospital emergency room Tuesday, May 1, and was chased down South Michigan Avenue at 3:45 p.m. before being captured outside Rogers Auto group at 2720 S. Michigan Ave.

Police said the prisoner had asked to use the washroom and was being escorted to a police bathroom when he turned and punched the officer and fled down the hospital corridor toward the hospital’s west exit. The pursuing officer three times tried to use his tazer on the fleeing prisoner but the tazer refused to fire, police said.

The prisoner, without any clothing, according to police, then ran to 26th Street before fleeing south down Michigan Avenue where he tried to enter the Rogers Car dealership. Dealership employees refused to let the man in and he was captured by police officers, including a relief officer who was on his way to the hospital when he heard of the escape attempt.

Police charged the 35-year-old Wheaton man with battery, interfering with a police officer and escape. An ambulance was called for the officer who was assaulted and he was treated at Mercy Hospital for blunt trauma.

Police reported the theft of an ATM machine Monday, April 30 from a Chicago Public Schools parking lot at 180 N. Franklin St. Police said witnesses saw three men back up a U-Haul trailer to the doors of the parking lot at around 4 a.m. April 30 before going inside and taking the ATM out of the lobby, putting it inside the U-Haul and then driving away southbound on Franklin.

Gearing up for upcoming NATO Summit, six protesters were arrested at city hall Friday, April 29 and another protester was charged with aggravated battery to a police officer as well as criminal trespass to state supported land when he allegedly shoved a police sergeant at 12:30 p.m. April 30 outside the mayor’s office.

One man was involved in a protest on the fifth floor of city hall when he attempted to enter the mayor’s office. When he began to cause a disturbance, police said, he was escorted off the fifth floor only to return and again attempt to enter the mayor’s office when he was accused of physically trying to push a police officer out of his way.

At 5:30 p.m. April 30, six individuals were charged with criminal trespass when they refused to respect the barriers set up at city hall. Police said they warned the individuals that they were going to be arrested if they did not desist, and the protestors responded that they wanted to be arrested.

A 53-year-old Chicago woman was robbed Saturday, May 5, outside a currency exchange at 540 W. Roosevelt Road. Police said the woman had left the currency exchange at 3:05 p.m. May 5 and was walking to her car when she heard someone say “Hey, turn around, don’t say anything and give me your purse.” She said the man was holding a long black gun. The man took the woman’s drivers license, a $420 money order, a prepaid VISA card worth $300 and her husband’s drivers license.

Witnesses saw a truck driver kick a 50-gallon drum containing what was believed to be diesel fuel onto the curb in the 200 block of Des Plaines Avenue at noon Thursday, May 3. Police said the fire department was called and poured a drying solution on the leaking fuel to prevent it from flowing into nearby sewers. Police then called SET Environmental, who removed the tank and cleaned up the spill, eventually calling in a city street sweeper to finish the job.

—Compiled by Mike Ulreich