Man chokes 8 year old girl unconscious in a restaurant and carries her into the bathroom stall

A woman and her 8-year-old daughter went to Jason's Deli in Chicago for lunch last Saturday at about 1:15 pm and had a very traumatic experience. According to the mum, her daughter wanted to use the bathroom and she allowed her to go alone, a few minutes later, she heard her daughter scream and she ran into the bathroom only for her to see a man carrying her unconscious daughter into a bathroom stall.

She tried to get into the stall to rescue her daughter but the man kept fighting and pushing her out of the stall, fortunately the mother's screams brought employees of the deli and some customers to the stall and they helped rescue her daughter. They held the man till the Police arrived.

According to Chicago police press release, the mother saw a terrifying scene: "33-year-old Reese M. Hartstirn carrying the unconscious girl into a stall".
Police allege that he had choked the 8 year old girl with his hands until she lost consciousness. After the mother rescued her daughter, other customers and employees held Hartstirn until police arrived.

In a statement Jason's Deli praised their employees and customers for helping out the woman and her daughter. The statement read:

"We’re blessed to have a wonderful relationship with the Chicago Police Department." "Many of them are our customers and because of their connection to our deli, this unfortunate situation was handled very quickly. We’re proud of how our team members responded and thankful that we have the kind of customers that are willing to lend a hand in a difficult situation. We continue to work hard every day to make every customer happy."

The girl was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital by her mother, but no information has been released on her condition.

Hartstirn has been charged with felony counts of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated battery of a child.

After he got arrested and was taken to the police station, he allegedly started swinging at a police officer. So they added a misdemeanor charge to his previous charge. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of battery and aggravated assault of a peace officer.

Hartstirn was denied bond on Monday and remanded to custody.

He is due back in court for a hearing on May 16.


The Chicago Tribune