Three teens charged in robberies at or near CTA Red Line stops, including attack of actor Will Clinger

CHICAGO (CBS) — Three teens have been charged in a string of robberies over the past several weeks at or near stops on the CTA Red Line.

Chicago police said all three were charged after turning themselves in Monday at CPD’s Area 1 detective headquarters.

A 15-year-old boy is charged with two felony counts of robbery, accused of robbing a 33-year-old man on April 13 at the Harrison station on the Red Line, and robbing a woman on the same day in the 1800 block of West Howard Street, about a block away from the Howard stop on the Red Line.

A 17-year-old boy also faces two felony counts of robbery in those same robberies. 

Police said the 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl also face robbery charges for the April 25 attack on 64-year-old actor Will Clinger at the Addison Street Red Line stop near Wrigley Field. Clinger is the former host of the WTTW-Channel 11 program “Wild Chicago” and the current host of “Wild Travels.”

The day after that attack, Clinger told CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov he never saw the attack coming. 

“I was definitely taken by surprise, Dana – in a big way,” Clinger said.

Clinger shared a picture of himself in the hospital and talked to Kozlov by phone – while waiting for a second CAT scan after being hit in the head.

He said he ran after a pair who suddenly reached out and grabbed his phone as he sat on the train. They ran as the doors opened at Addison, and he ran after them.

“There must have been a second guy next to the other door who got out and waylaid me with a pipe or something as I was chasing, because all I remember is running and suddenly falling – and I don’t even remember hitting the pavement,” Clinger said.

That is the last he remembers before waking up in the hospital with a brain bleed and contusion.

Clinger hosted the popular Channel 11 show “Wild Chicago” for about 11 years – taking over from original host Ben Hollis in 1992, and continuing until 2003. He first co-hosted the show with Laura Meagher, then hosted solo along with a team of local actors who served as “Wild Correspondents.” 

Meantime, the 15-year-old girl charged in Clinger’s attack also faces charges in the March 21 robbery of a 74-year-old man at the Fullerton station on the Red Line, and in an April 25 robbery of a 28-year-old woman at the Thorndale stop on the Red Line.

Court information for the three teens was not immediately available.