Woman fights off groper on crowded CTA Red Line train

Chiquita Brown says her defense instincts kicked in after being sexually assaulted on her commute to work.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:27am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a crumpled train ticket or transit pass, the harsh flash lighting creating a stark, gritty aesthetic that conceptually represents the investigation into a reported assault on public transportation.A commuter's harrowing experience on Chicago's transit system exposes the need for improved safety and security measures.Chicago Today

A Chicago woman named Chiquita Brown said she was sexually assaulted on a crowded CTA Red Line train during her morning commute to work. Brown said a man groped her from behind, and when she confronted him, she started hitting him. The conductor radioed the police, but the man ran off before they arrived. Brown filed a complaint at the police station, but no arrests have been made as of Tuesday night.

Why it matters

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about safety and security on Chicago's public transit system, the CTA. The Federal Transit Administration has called for the CTA to revamp its safety plan, and the CTA recently said it plans to increase policing hours by 75%. However, Brown said she didn't see any officers on her train, raising questions about the effectiveness of the CTA's safety measures.

The details

Chiquita Brown said she was standing on a crowded CTA Red Line train on her way to work when a man passed her and groped her between the legs from behind. Brown said she "lost it" and started hitting the man, telling him "You don't touch me, why are you putting your hands on me?" The conductor radioed the police, but the man ran off before they arrived. Brown described the offender as a Black male with a tan jacket, blue jeans, and short dreads.

  • On Tuesday morning, April 8, 2026, Chiquita Brown was assaulted on a CTA Red Line train during her commute to work.

The players

Chiquita Brown

A Chicago woman who was sexually assaulted on a CTA Red Line train while commuting to work.

CTA

The Chicago Transit Authority, which operates the city's public transportation system including the 'L' train network where the incident occurred.

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What they’re saying

“I believe I was sexually assaulted on the Red Line this morning.”

— Chiquita Brown

“I lost it. I started hitting him, and I said, 'You don't touch me, why are you putting your hands on me?'”

— Chiquita Brown

“Whatever their tactic is, we need results. So you can threaten to hold back money, but at the end of the day, we need results. I feel like they do need to go back to the drawing board.”

— Chiquita Brown

What’s next

Officers met Chiquita Brown at the Clark/Lake Station when the train arrived, but as of Tuesday night, no arrests have been made. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges of ensuring safety and security on Chicago's public transit system, the CTA. While the agency has pledged to increase policing, Brown's experience suggests more needs to be done to protect commuters from harassment and assault, especially on crowded trains during peak hours.