Teen Girl Attacked At Elmhurst Theater: Cops

ELMHURST, IL – A Chicago man stroked a 17-year-old girl's left thigh and buttocks over the weekend at York Theatre in Elmhurst, authorities said.

Police released details of the case against Delbert Patterson, 62. He is accused of felony aggravated battery in a public place.

The incident occurred about 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the downtown theater, police said.

The girl promptly told her father, and two bystanders chased Patterson as he tried to flee, police said.

Patterson was arrested shortly after, with the bystanders having detained him, according to a news release from DuPage County prosecutors.

Under the SAFE-T Act, which took effect two years ago, authorities cannot jail Patterson before his trial, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in the news release. Patterson is barred from entering York Theatre.

"As I have said before, cases such as this illustrate the need for changes to the State’s Safe-T-Act to give judges more discretion for certain offenses at a defendant’s First Appearance Court hearing," Berlin said. "After hearing all the facts and circumstances surrounding a particular case, Judges, not the legislature, are in the best position to decide whether a defendant should be detained pre-trial."

Elmhurst Police Chief Michael McLean said in the release, "Though criminals, such as alleged in this case, may commit such despicable acts in our society, it is gratifying to see the strength of our community demonstrated by the courageous actions of the victim, her father and the witnesses that rushed to help them."