Man, 91, Allegedly Punched By Felon In Chinatown: Cops

CHICAGO — Sgt. Michael Bazarek had lost his way Tuesday afternoon while looking for a cup of coffee in Chinatown during a lunch break for the pre-retirement seminar he had been attending. That errant driving meant the 28-year Chicago police veteran witnessed an apparently unprovoked attack on a 91-year-old man.

Bazarek was on duty at the time, even though he was wearing street clothes and driving an Alfa Romeo that he had recently purchased. His response was that of an on-duty officer, as well.

"My reaction was I have to do something. I'm a police officer," Bazarek said during a Thursday press conference.

What he did was pursue and help apprehend the convicted felon allegedly responsible for punching the elderly man. Alexander Taylor, 45, of the 7400 block of North Winchester Avenue, was arrested and charged with aggravated battery involving a victim 60 or older, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and aggravated battery in a public place. His bail hearing is set for Friday.

According to Chicago police, the incident happened at around 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, in the 2400 block of South Wentworth Avenue. Taylor is accused of punching the victim, who was walking southbound on the sidewalk, police said.

The elderly man was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where his condition was stabilized, according to police. His family told WGN-TV that the man is in the hospital's intensive care unit and on a feeding tube.

WATCH: Chicago police Sgt. Michael Bazarek talks about helping to apprehend a convicted felon who allegedly attacked a 91-year-old man in Chinatown.

This isn't the first time Taylor has been involved in an attack on an elderly person. In 2008, he was convicted of aggravated battery, according to the Chicago Tribune. He also was convicted of attempted murder in 1998, the report added.

Even before the attack, Bazarek said he noticed Taylor "speaking gibberish" and gesturing wildly, scaring other pedestrians but not harming them. That changed when Taylor "suddenly reared back" and punched the 91-year-old man, Bazarek said.

"Even before the attack, I feared something was going wrong," he added.

Passers-by and other pedestrians attended to the victim, who fell to the ground following the attack, and Bazarek pursued Taylor. Without a police radio, he used his cellphone to call 911 to report the incident.

Bazarek chased Taylor to the 0-100 block of West 26th Street, where he ordered him to stop. Other Chicago police officers arrived at the scene at that time, and Taylor was arrested without incident, Bazarek said.

Following the arrest, Bazarek returned to South Wentworth to see how the victim was doing. The man was unconscious and being attended to by paramedics at the time, but Bazarek said he and his family were in his prayers.

Next year, Bazarek will retire from the force, and that impending retirement was the reason he was at Tuesday's seminar. The last time he had been in Chinatown was as a child when his father was a Chicago police lieutenant. Asked Thursday if he felt his actions were heroic, Bazarek's answer was quick and simple.

"It's our job. That's what we do."

Alexander Taylor (Photo via Chicago Police Department)