Woman In Bat Attacks A 'Real And Present Danger' To Community: Judge

CHICAGO — A 26-year-old Chicago woman was ordered held on $800,000 bond on Thursday after a Cook County judge called her a "real and present danger to the community" after police said she attacked multiple women with a metal baseball bat in attacks that took place this week in broad daylight.

Denise Solorzano faces eight felony counts of battery and assault after police said she attacked eight women. In some of the attacks, prosecutors said she asked the victim, "What if I beat you with this bat?" before striking them multiple times.

Solorzano is also accused of attempting to hit one of her victims with her car at least six times during one of the attacks, which took place on Sunday and Tuesday.

A judge on Thursday ordered Solorzano held on the $800,000 bond — $100,000 bond for each of her victims — despite the fact that Solorzano has "significant" mental health issues and no prior criminal record. Solorzano was also ordered not to have any contact with any of her alleged victims.

"Sometimes people come before the court with such serious crimes and pose such a serious danger to the community they must have a significant bond," the judge said at Thursday's hearing, saying the amount imposed was meant to protect women in the community from Solorzano. The judge also ordered that Solorzano be monitored electronically if bond is posted.

Prosecutors have not suggested a motive in the attacks.

Solorzano, who lives in the 4900 block of Lawrence Avenue on Chicago’s Northwest Side, was arrested on Wednesday. Police said she attacked her victims, all of whom are women, in broad daylight on Sunday and Tuesday. Solorzano was arrested at 1:45 a.m. Wednesday in the 2700 block of Foster Avenue and was taken into custody without incident, police said.

Solorzano was seen driving a sedan and getting out of her car before attacking victims with a baseball bat, police said. In one instance, a cell phone video showed her attacking another woman while she was pushing a stroller, according to authorities.

At her bond hearing on Thursday, prosecutors documented the attacks in great detail. Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Sarah Dale-Schmidt said in the first attack, Solorzano drove past her first alleged victim and threatened to "beat her ass" before getting out of her car and punching the woman multiple times and knocking her to the ground.

Prosecutors said she then dragged the woman by her hair down Richmond Avenue while the victim cried for help. It wasn't until a witness came out that Solorzano relented, returned to her car and drove off.

An hour later, prosecutors said that Solorzano approached two women from behind before she walked up to one of the women and asked, "What would you do if I punched you in the face?" After the woman attempted to walk away, prosecutors said that Solorzano grabbed the woman by her hair, turning her around before she began punching the woman in the face, Dale-Schmidt said. The victim fell to the ground, struck her head, and briefly lost her vision before Solorzano began punching her again, prosecutors said.

When her friend tried to intervene, prosecutors said that Solorzano punched her before grabbing her hair and pulling her to the ground, and "tearing out of a chunk of her hair," prosecutors said during Thursday's hearing. As police cars approached, prosecutors said Solorzano fled in a white Subaru sedan that multiple victims described to police.

Police gave chase, but Solorzano was able to escape after running at least one red light, prosecutors said.

Two days later, Solarzano again targeted women, prosecutors said. Her first alleged attack involved two women, one of whom had her 6-month-old child with her. In this case, prosecutors said Solorzano asked the women, "What would you do if I beat you with this bat?" before she got out holding a short metal bat.

Prosecutors said Solorzano managed to strike one of the women five to seven times in the arm and hands after the woman held up her arms to defend herself. Prosecutors said Solorzano then turned her attention to the other woman, hitting her multiple times with the bat. A resident then came outside and told the women she had called the police, which caused Solorzano to flee, prosecutors said.

Moments later, prosecutors said Solorzano attempted to hit a woman walking her dog with her car multiple times, causing the woman to fear for her life, the prosecutor told the court. A few blocks later, the woman told police said she saw Solorzano standing on the sidewalk with a short, metal bat. As the woman attempted to pass, prosecutors said Solorzano stepped in her path and said, "What would happen if I bashed you with this bat?"

The victim again tried to pass before Solorzano repeated the threat to "bash her with the bat" before striking her with the bat multiple times. While police were speaking to witnesses, they were alerted of another attack in which Solorzano attempted to strike a woman with her car six times, including once after turning around after passing the woman.

Prosecutors said that Solorzano then came into contact with her latest victims and again was holding the same bat, which police later found in her car when she was arrested. Police said she struck one of the women in the head with the bat before driving away.

Dale-Schmidt told the judge that partial license plate readings and the description of a pink-colored crown sticker on the car helped lead police to Solarzano's residence, where she lives with her parents. Police impounded the vehicle, which no longer had the pink sticker, prosecutors said. Officers were, however, able to see the outline of where the sticker had been, which the judge said indicates that Solorzano had attempted to tamper with evidence.

Five of the victims positively identified Solorzano in a photo lineup, prosecutors said.

Solorzano faces three felony counts of aggravated battery in a public place, four felony counts of aggravated battery and use of a deadly weapon, and one felony count of aggravated assault with the use of a motor vehicle, police said on Thursday.

Solorzano is scheduled to return to court on May 17 in Skokie.