Prairie State Wire

The U.S. Attorney's Office has charged a Chicago man with assaulting a federal employee outside the Dirksen Federal Building in downtown Chicago. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when Joshua Rowell, 36, allegedly approached the victim from behind and punched her in the face, causing her to stumble into Jackson Boulevard. The victim, a federal judiciary employee, suffered a concussion and was treated at a local hospital.

Chicago Police apprehended Rowell approximately an hour after the alleged attack. He is currently detained and faces one count of forcible assault of a federal employee, which carries a maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison. His initial court appearance has not yet been scheduled.

The announcement of the charges was made by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; LaDon A. Reynolds, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois; and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Maione is representing the government in this case.

U.S. Attorney Boutros emphasized zero tolerance for attacks against federal employees or at any federal government locations within the Northern District of Illinois: “Our federal employees and the people of the Northern District of Illinois deserve to be able to go to and from work and enjoy all that downtown and Chicagoland have to offer without looking over their shoulders out of fear of being attacked.”

Earlier this month, Boutros established new Project Safe Neighborhoods enforcement zones across Chicago's economic centers and throughout its rail system operated by the Chicago Transit Authority.

It is important to note that a complaint is not evidence of guilt; Rowell is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.