Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Additional Assault Charge Placed on Homeless Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Elderly Woman

An 83-year-old woman was trying to help a man she thought was homeless when he attacked her.

Updated 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7

Dennis D. Dodson, 34, was charged with assault on Monday, Oct. 3 in connection to an incident where Dodson threatened to stab an employee in the parking lot area of Home Depot, 7300 W. 159th Street, according to a release from the . The incident happened on Aug. 30 around 9:55 a.m.

Bail was set at $50,000 for the added charge.

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Dodson was apparently living behind the store among trees when he attacked and sexually assaulted an 83-year-old woman who tried helping him on Sept. 23, police said.

Updated 5 p.m. Saturday

Find out what's happening in Orland Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Police pressed charges on a homeless man for attacking and sexually assaulting an elderly woman Friday morning

Dennis D. Dodson Jr., 34, without a last known address, was charged with one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault, a Class X felony. He is scheduled to be in court Monday at the Bridgeview Courthouse for a bond hearing.

Updated 1:05 a.m. Saturday

Orland Park Police have questioned a man suspected of sexually assaulting an 83-year-old woman near 159th Street and Harlem Avenue Friday morning.

officers arrested the man thought to be responsible for the attack in the 17000 block of Harlem Avenue around 9:45 p.m., according to an update from the Orland Park Police Department. Orland Park police investigators then began questioning.

No charges had been filed as of 11:25 p.m. Friday. Investigators were unavailable for comment Saturday morning.

Around 11:15 a.m. Friday, the woman called police and said she was attempting to help a man she thought was homeless, and living in trees behind a department store in the 7300 block of 159th Street, according to an release.

The woman apparently has had previous contact with the man and attempted to help him before.

The man knocked her to the ground and sexually assaulted her before fleeing the scene when he saw an Orland Park police squad car, according to the release.

Police described the man as follows:

  • White
  • 35-45 years old
  • 5 feet 8 inches tall
  • Thin build
  • Curly red hair and red beard
  • Possibly wearing a black leather jacket and carrying a black backpack
  • Missing some teeth

Officials believe the man fled on a black bicycle, according to the report.

The woman was treated at Advocate South Suburban Hospital for minor injuries, police said.

Other law enforcement agencies were called in to search for the man, including the Cook County Sheriff’s K-9 unit, helicopter air unit and Forest Preserve District, as well as police from , and Orland Hills departments.


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