Man who viciously whipped 80-year-old with belt is arrested for 3rd time in 4 days: officials

Michael Harris (Chicago Police Department)

CHICAGO — A North Side man was arrested three times in four days for allegedly threatening and battering people in the Loop and Uptown, culminating with a violent attack on an 80-year-old man, according to court records. The documents show that Michael Harris, 30, was arrested on July 19, July 20, and again on July 22. 

Incredibly, a Chicago police report says officers released Harris from custody the first time, even though he was behaving so abnormally that the Cook County Sheriff’s Office refused to admit him to the Leighton Criminal Courthouse for an initial appearance.

On July 19, Harris allegedly went behind the counter at McDonald’s, 1004 West Wilson, and repeatedly punched a 47-year-old male employee in the face. Police arrested him nearby and noted that he was “erratic and uncooperative” and had someone else’s blood on his clothes.

He was only charged with a misdemeanor, even though the attack could qualify for a felony complaint. But when CPD took him to the courthouse around 5:20 a.m. the next day, sheriff’s office employees refused to take him into the building until he underwent a psychiatric exam, according to a Chicago police report.

A police supervisor noted that Harris had “already been cleared” by a hospital, so CPD released him from the police station “in order not to violate civil rights.”

Barely eight hours later, police arrested Harris again in the Loop. This time, a 51-year-old man reported that Harris threw his property onto the State-Lake Red Line tracks and threatened to shoot him while gesturing as if he had a weapon, a police report said.

Charged with misdemeanor assault, Harris was taken to court the next morning and Judge Susana Ortiz released him from custody.

The very next day, around 1:30 p.m. on July 22, Harris allegedly attacked an 80-year-old man at McDonald’s, 5130 North Sheridan.

According to the victim’s complaint, Harris approached the man in the dining room, removed his belt, and began whipping the man. Harris raised the belt over his head and struck the victim with it several times, a CPD report said. He then grabbed the 80-year-old and dragged him toward an exit while continuing to whip him with the belt, according to the allegations.

The police found him inside a nearby Subway restaurant. They said they found 17 packaged THC gummies and a crushed pill that they believed was ecstasy in Harris’ possession.

This time, prosecutors charged Harris with felony aggravated battery of a victim older than 60, possession of a controlled substance, and manufacture-delivery of cannabis.

Prosecutors did not ask Judge William Fahy to detain Harris in the felony case. However, Fahy kept him in custody until the judge handling his misdemeanor cases could review the new allegations. If the other judge releases Harris, he must go on electronic monitoring.

Harris’ case is not unusual. Earlier this week, CWBChicago reported that another man, arrested 12 times already this year, kept being released from custody even though people repeatedly told police that he had battered them at random.

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