West Chicago woman charged with assaulting Metra conductor

A 27-year-old West Chicago woman was arrested Monday after police say she sprayed dog repellent on a Metra conductor who asked for her ticket as she got off the train.

Wheaton police arrested Latoya Moore and charged her with theft of service and felony aggravated battery.

DuPage County Judge Patrick Leston set bail at $10,000, meaning Moore would have to post $1,000 to be released.

Assistant State's Attorney Louisa Nuckolls said Moore boarded a Metra train in West Chicago shortly after 9 a.m. A conductor approached Moore after she got off the train because the conductor didn't have a chance to check her ticket while she was onboard, Nuckolls said.

Nuckolls said Moore ignored the first conductor, who was then joined by a second conductor. As Moore continued to walk away, a third conductor became involved, Nuckolls said. That's when Moore sprayed one of them in the face with mace, Nuckolls said.

“It turned out she did have a 10-ride pass with her,” Nuckolls told the judge. “She said she thought the conductors were kidding around with her, and she felt intimidated when they surrounded her.”

Prosecutors asked for a $50,000 bail. The conductors held Moore until police arrived and took her into custody.

The court account differed slightly with a Wheaton Police Department news release sent earlier in the afternoon.

In the release, police said Moore refused to show the ticket and sprayed the second conductor that approached her.

Deputy Chief Tom Meloni said the conductor did not suffer any injuries and rinsed his face immediately after the incident.

The incident delayed the train at the College Avenue stop, just north of Triangle Park in Wheaton, for about 25 minutes, Meloni said.

Nuckolls said Moore has no prior criminal record. Moore told the judge she works as a cashier and photo technician for CVS Pharmacy.