A suburban man put a South Shore Line transit police officer in a chokehold and clawed at his face before the officer shot him earlier this week at a Far South Side train station, Cook County prosecutors said during a Saturday hearing.
A judge set bail at $50,000 for Lansing resident Alfredo Alanis, 33, who is charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer following the Thursday morning disturbance on a commuter train from Indiana to Chicago.
Alanis allegedly got angry and threatened a worker who asked him to buy a ticket at the next stop about 8 a.m., prosecutors said.
The worker called for backup, and when the train stopped at the Hegewisch station, 13730 S. Brainerd Ave., an officer of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District — which operates the South Shore Line — asked Alanis to exit the train multiple times to discuss the issue, but he refused, according to Chicago police and prosecutors.
Alanis confronted and verbally attacked other passengers before leaving the train, prosecutors said, and as he exited, an officer put his hand on Alanis’ arm to guide him out.
Alanis punched that officer in the face and a scuffle ensued, prosecutors said. Alanis allegedly clawed at the officer’s face and eyes before putting him in a headlock, tightening his arm around the officer’s neck.
In “fear for his life,” the officer grabbed his pistol and shot Alanis once in the stomach, prosecutors said.
Alanis was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he remained Saturday after undergoing emergency surgery.
The officer, who had visibly bloodshot eyes and was bleeding, was taken to Trinity Hospital, where he was treated for facial abrasions and lacerations, prosecutors said.
At least eight people witnessed the assault, which was also caught on the officer’s body-worn camera, prosecutors said.
Alanis, 33, has two prior felony convictions, both filed in New York, including for a 2019 charge of criminal possession of a weapon, prosecutors said. He also has six misdemeanor convictions in four states, including Illinois and Indiana.
He is expected back in court March 15.
