Judge Criticized for Releasing Suspect with Dozens of Arrests Prior to CTA Fire Attack

Judge criticized for releasing suspect with dozens of arrests prior to CTA fire attack

A Cook County judge is facing criticism in the case of a suspect accused of lighting a woman on fire while aboard a CTA Blue Line train Monday night.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Shrugs off Man with 49 Prior Arrests Dousing Woman with Gasoline and Setting Her on Fire on Chicago Train - "This is an Isolated Incident"

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has responded to the incident on a Chicago train this week, where a man with 49 prior arrests doused a woman in flammable liquid and set her on fire.  The man, 50-year-old Lawrence Reed, had previously been incarcerated multiple times and charged with at least 10 felonies.

Judge orders Chicago man accused of setting CTA rider on fire to remain in custody

A Chicago man accused of setting a woman on fire aboard a CTA train will remain detained in federal custody pending trial, according to prosecutors.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson calls Blue Line fire attack ‘isolated incident’ – Chicago Tribune/Yahoo

“The level of accountability that has to happen in this moment, I trust that the federal level will do its part,” Johnson said, before stressing, “All I can say is that as awful and as horrific as this tragedy is, this is an isolated incident. As we continue to invest more in our public transportation system, we want people to feel safe as they ride.”