Man charged with attacking women on jogging path

ELGIN, Ill. (STMW) -- A 19-year-old Elgin man has been arrested in connection with two separate attacks on female joggers in the last three months along the bike path north of northwest suburban Elgin.

Francisco Cruz, of the 700 block of Jefferson Avenue in Elgin, is charged with aggravated battery, unlawful restraint and aggravated unlawful restraint. Cruz was arrested Friday, but authorities did not release information on the arrest until Tuesday.

Both incidents took place near the area of Covey Street and Elgin Avenue, along a stretch of the Fox River Trail between Interstate 90 and East Dundee.

In each case, the victim was attacked from behind, police said.

Kane County Forest Preserve District spokeswoman Laurie Metanchuk said the first attack occurred Sept. 27. The victim -- identified as a 30-year-old woman from East Dundee -- was grabbed from behind but managed to escape before the attacker could pull her into his vehicle, authorities said.

The second incident took place Dec. 1, when a 19-year-old woman was reported to have been briefly knocked unconscious when she was struck on the back of the head with a blunt object.

She also was able to get away and ran to a nearby residence, where the homeowner called for help.

"I was on the driveway when she ran out of the woods and came running up the street," resident Jeff Bulger said. "I asked her if she was hurt, and she said she was OK, just a bit scared. I thought she was very calm, very collected."

Both victims provided similar descriptions of their attacker as well as the car they said he drove -- a tan, mid-size vehicle -- that led authorities to Cruz, police said.

Forest District police Chief Michael Gilloffo credited the efforts of investigators from his department and Elgin police in leading to the arrest of Cruz.

"This is an outstanding example of interagency teamwork and cooperation from the victims," Gilloffo stated in a written release.

Cruz was being held Tuesday in the Kane County jail, with bail set at $50,000. He is to appear in court on Thursday. Court records show he was out on bond at the time of his arrest after being charged in July on two misdemeanor counts of domestic battery.