Man Charged With Shoving Commuter Onto CTA Tracks Free On Bond After Wife Posts Bail
By Stephen Gossett in News on Oct 11, 2017 5:59PM
Chad Estep / Chicago Police Department
Chad Estep, 34, of Wicker Park, had been ordered held on $200,000 bond at a court appearance on Tuesday. Estep's wife paid the required 10 percent, $20,000, on Tuesday evening, at around 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the Tribune.
Estep is charged with first-degree attempted murder and a felony count of aggravated battery in a public place in the incident.
Police believe he's the man who shoved Ben Benedict, 47, off the platform at the Washington Blue Line station at around 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 1. Benedict, who landed just a foot from the third rail, tried to climb back up but was blocked by the pusher, according to the Tribune's original report. Only after other commuters were able to circle the attacker was Benedict able to safely get back to the platform, Benedict told the paper. Estep also tried to stop those who came to Benedict's aid, prosecutors reportedly said.
Estep, who received a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Northwestern University earlier this year, was arrested at his Wicker Park home on Monday, according to police.
The Chicago Police Department at first did not publicly release photos of the attacker, although they had culled images from CTA surveillance video, and it's not uncommon for CPD to release photos of suspects believed to be involved in crimes that take place on the transit system. Only after the Tribune first reported the attack, in September, did the police department release the photos.
Prosecutors reportedly said on Tuesday that Estep looked intoxicated on CTA surveillance video, but did not put forth a potential motive. They said he did not know Benedict, who was on his way home after a Cubs game.