April 24--A judge Saturday set bail at $100,000 for a man who prosecutors say punched a West Side alderman.
Rafheal Taylor, 30, was charged with a felony count of aggravated battery of a government employee and a misdemeanor count of possession of cannabis, according to a news release from the Chicago Police Department.
About 2 p.m. Thursday, prosecutors say Taylor entered the Near West Side office of Ald. Walter Burnett, 27th, and told the office's employees, "I am Lucifer, and I have a message to deliver. Tell Alderman Walter Burnett and Mayor Rahm Emanuel to stop playing games with me." Taylor then re-entered the office ten minutes later and told the office's receptionist, Karen Gutierrez, that he had another message to deliver.
"Tell the Mayor Lucifer is going to beat his ass," Taylor said, according to prosecutors.
Taylor then exited the office and began walking back and forth past the building, prosecutors said. Gutierrez identified Taylor to Burnett's assistant, Jessie Smart, who approached Taylor.
Taylor began to taunt Smart by raising his fist and motioning Smart to fight him. Smart returned to the office building.
Later that day, about 7 p.m., Burnett was walking southbound on Madison Street near Western Avenue, on his way to host "Ward Night." Taylor approached him and said, "You know what this is for," prosecutors said.
Taylor then proceeded to punch Burnett in the face with a closed fist, knocking him to the ground, prosecutors said.
Burnett suffered a minor injury to his right eye, according to police. Prosecutors said Burnett suffered a cut on his face and was bleeding. He refused medical attention at the scene.
Taylor was taken into custody and arrested a short time later after being identified by the alderman, and he was found to be in possession of cannabis, police said.
Taylor, of the 1400 block of South Canal Street, suffers from schizophrenia, according to his defense attorney.
