Man charged with attempted sexual assault on Red Line train

A man accused of trying to sexually assault a woman on a CTA Red Line train on the North Side on Sunday was arrested a day later, after he started smoking on a train and drew the notice of a security guard.

Ronald Sparks, 34, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault for attacking the woman between the Fullerton and North/Clybourn stations, police claim.

The suspect and the woman were the only passengers on a southbound Red Line car when he attacked her about 5 a.m. Sunday, according to police. Authorities later released a surveillance photo of the man.

Sparks was arrested about 1:45 a.m. Monday in the 800 block of North State Street, after an Action K-9 Security agent saw that he matched the description of the suspected attacker, police said.

The agent first noticed Sparks because he was smoking inside a CTA train car, police said.

Sparks, of the 7700 block of North Throop, was also issued a municipal ordinance violation for smoking on the CTA, police said.

Sparks is scheduled to appear for a bond hearing Tuesday.