Man charged with sexually assaulting woman in Austin alley

A 21-year-old man has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman early Monday in the West Side Austin neighborhood.

Elante R. Ellis faces one felony count of criminal sexual assault by force, according to Chicago Police.

A 23-year-old woman told investigators she was talking to a man she knew, later identified as Ellis, in a gangway between two homes in the 1700 block of North Monitor about 4 a.m. That’s when she said he grabbed her and sexually assaulted her, police said.

The woman was able to call 911 and Ellis was arrested, police said. She suffered “minor scratches” and was taken to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park for evaluation.

Ellis, of the 5800 block of West Cortland, was ordered held on a $100,000 bond Tuesday, according to police and Cook County court records. He is next scheduled to appear in court Jan. 25.