Palatine man charged with sexual abuse, robbery of teenage girl near train station

A 26-year-old Palatine man faces charges alleging he grabbed a teenage girl and stole her cellphone near the village’s Metra station Monday morning, authorities said.

Kearve K. Williams, 26, of the 1100 block of East Northwest Highway, is charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a victim 13 to 16 years old, and resisting arrest. Palatine police said there could be additional charges.

According to police, officers responded to a report of a juvenile calling for help at about 7 a.m. near the 200 block of West Wood Street.

They found a girl in distress who reported being the victim of a robbery and a sexual offense by an unknown man, police said. She suffered nonlife-threatening injuries, was evaluated at the scene by the Palatine Fire Department and released to her parents, according to police.

An investigation led to the identification of a suspect, who was located in the downtown area. The man, later identified as Williams, fled on foot, but was arrested following a brief pursuit by detectives and patrol officers, police said.

Williams remains in custody pending a detention hearing Wednesday at the Cook County courthouse in Rolling Meadows.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Palatine Police Investigations Bureau at (847) 359-9000.