Repeat Offender Assaults Doctor in Chicago Hospital Elevator
In a shocking incident that highlights growing concerns about public safety and repeat offenders in Chicago, a 39-year-old man with an extensive arrest record allegedly attacked a doctor inside an elevator at Northwestern Memorial Hospital last month. Sean Popps, who has accumulated a dozen arrests this year alone, now faces aggravated battery charges after what authorities describe as an unprovoked assault on a 42-year-old cardiologist. The incident, which occurred in the hospital’s Streeterville campus parking garage on November 2, has raised serious questions about hospital security and the effectiveness of the city’s approach to handling individuals with patterns of criminal behavior.
According to prosecutors, the attack happened around 1:39 p.m. when the female cardiologist entered an elevator in the parking garage at 236 East Huron Street. Security footage reportedly shows Popps following the physician into the elevator before suddenly and repeatedly punching her in the head. The victim, who had no prior interaction with her attacker, stumbled backward while attempting to shield her face with her hands. Police reports indicate she sustained multiple injuries from the assault, including bruises, hematomas, and abrasions to her face, head, arms, and hand. What makes this case particularly disturbing is the seemingly random nature of the attack—the doctor reportedly had no previous contact with Popps, making this a frightening example of unpredictable violence that can affect even healthcare professionals in their workplace.
The history between Popps and Northwestern Memorial Hospital reveals a troubling pattern that predates this latest incident. After the attack, a security guard at the hospital quickly identified Popps from surveillance footage, informing authorities about “approximately 30 plus prior incidents” where Popps had to be removed from the facility. Another officer at the hospital stated they had encountered Popps “approximately two times a day over the last 19 months,” suggesting an ongoing issue that spans nearly two years. This wasn’t merely an isolated incident but rather the culmination of a long-standing problem that hospital security and local law enforcement had been grappling with for some time. Records show Popps has been a recurring presence at the hospital, with arrests taking place on or near the hospital grounds consistently since 2020—twice that year, twice in 2021, once in 2022, and once in 2023.
The frequency of Popps’ arrests has increased dramatically in recent years. Since the beginning of 2025, he has been arrested a dozen times, with most incidents occurring at or near Northwestern Memorial’s campus. This follows seven arrests in 2024, again primarily connected to the hospital grounds. At the time of the elevator attack, Popps was already on pretrial release for allegedly trespassing at a residential building in October and attempting to escape from police custody after being arrested. This pattern raises critical questions about the effectiveness of Chicago’s pretrial release system and whether adequate measures are in place to address individuals who demonstrate repeated criminal behavior. The case exemplifies broader concerns about public safety in medical facilities, which are meant to be safe havens for both patients and healthcare workers.
The attack on the cardiologist comes amid growing national attention on violence against healthcare workers. Medical professionals, who dedicate their lives to caring for others, increasingly find themselves vulnerable to assault in the workplace. Northwestern Memorial Hospital, one of Chicago’s premier medical institutions, now faces questions about how an individual with dozens of prior incidents on their property was able to access the facility and assault a staff member. The situation highlights the delicate balance healthcare facilities must strike between maintaining open access for patients and visitors while ensuring adequate security measures protect those who work there. For the victim, a physician who entered a hospital elevator likely assuming a basic level of safety in her workplace, the assault represents not just a physical trauma but a breach of the fundamental expectation that hospitals should be secure environments.
As Popps remains in custody at Cook County Jail facing charges of aggravated battery in a public place, his case exemplifies the challenges within Chicago’s criminal justice system when dealing with repeat offenders. The lack of effective intervention despite dozens of previous incidents raises serious concerns about gaps in addressing potentially dangerous behavior before it escalates to violence. While hospitals have traditionally been designed as welcoming, accessible spaces, incidents like this one may force medical facilities across the country to reevaluate their security protocols, potentially creating more barriers between healthcare providers and the communities they serve. For now, this case serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerabilities that exist even in spaces dedicated to healing and the ongoing challenges in protecting those who provide essential care to others.
