Misdemeanor charges filed in beating of 'The Walking Man'

Rosemary Regina Sobol ReporterChicago Tribune

Misdemeanor charges have been filed in the beating of Joseph Kromelis, a fixture on downtown Chicago streets who is known to many as "The Walking Man."

Perry McCarlton, 41, was charged with reckless conduct even though Kromelis was reluctant to press charges, police said.

Kromelis told police he was on Lower Wacker around 11 a.m. Tuesday and said "Hi" to someone he passed. That man began punching and hitting him with a bat, police said.

A Central District sergeant responding to a battery call saw McCarlton straddled over Kromelis, struggling with the bat, according to a police report. A witness told the sergeant the suspect also tried to throw Kromelis over a railing to the pavement about 20 feet below.