Man Who Tried To Rape Woman In Forest Preserve Charged: Authorities

the Lake & McHenry County Scanner

By Sam Borcia | December 4, 2020 1:01 pm

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-15532" src="https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/lw.jpg" alt="" width="759" height="562" srcset="https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/lw.jpg 953w, https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/lw-300x222.jpg 300w, https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/lw-768x569.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 759px) 100vw, 759px" />Regjae McMullen, 25, of Zion, (inset) was charged in an attempted sexual assault at Lyons Woods Forest Preserve in Waukegan. | Photo: Google Street View.

Charges have been filed against a man who allegedly pushed a woman off her bike, tried raping her and then robbed her in Lyons Woods Forest Preserve near Waukegan in July.

Regjae McMullen, 25, of Zion, was charged with attempted criminal sexual assault, two counts of robbery, aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and aggravated battery in a public place.

The incident happened just before 10 a.m. on July 19 while a woman was riding her bike in the forest preserve, which is near Blanchard Road and North Avenue in Waukegan, according to the Lake County Forest Preserve Police Department.

The suspect reportedly pushed her off the bike, tackled her and attempted to take her pants off, according to information sent to Lake and McHenry County Scanner at the time of the incident.

The woman was able to fight the attacker off and run away until she saw another forest preserve patron. The suspect took the victim’s black Cannondale Quick 5 bicycle and iPhone.

The victim sustained a dislocated shoulder and numerous scratches and bruises. She received medical attention.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-13443" src="https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Untitled-1.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="500" srcset="https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Untitled-1.jpg 800w, https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Untitled-1-300x188.jpg 300w, https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Untitled-1-768x480.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" />Sketch provided by the Lake County Forest Preserve in July.

It was reported that the suspect was a male Black in his 20s, medium build, between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-10, wearing a teal t-shirt and baggy pants.

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The Lake County Forest Preserve Police Department released a sketch of the suspect in late July and asked for the public’s assistance in identifying him.

On November 5 around 11 a.m., the Waukegan Police Department responded to the 2900 block of North Lewis Avenue in Waukegan for a report of a sexual assault.

Officers learned a woman, who was in her late teens, was sexually assaulted on a bike path between the 2900 block of North McAree Avenue and the 2900 block of North Lewis Avenue, which is near Bevier Park.

Waukegan Police Cmdr. Edgar Navarro said detectives were able to identify the suspect as McMullen through their investigation.

McMullen was arrested on November 10 in the 2900 block of North Lewis Avenue — the same area where the second attack took place.

Lake County Forest Preserve Police were able to link McMullen to the attempted sexual assault that took place in July at Lyons Woods and charges were filed on Wednesday, court records show.

The areas where both incidents took place were less than two miles from each other.

McMullen remains held in the Lake County jail on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on December 8.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.