A 79-year-old man who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl on a CTA bus in Logan Square was able to escape, even after the bus driver locked the doors, when another passenger told him to pull the emergency handle over the back door, according to prosecutors.



Carlos De La Torre ran away, but police were able to track him down after recognizing him on the bus surveillance video, prosecutors said in court Thursday. The bus driver also identified him in a photo lineup, they said.



De La Torre, of the 2700 block of North Sawyer Avenue, was charged with one count of felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child between 13 and 17. He was ordered held in lieu of $500,000 bail.



The attack happened shortly before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, police said. The girl was standing at a bus stop on Milwaukee Avenue when she caught De La Torre staring at her and tried to avoid him, prosecutors said.



De La Torre approached the girl and asked what school she attended, but she pretended not to hear him, prosecutors said. He then asked her age and tried to continue a conversation.



When the bus arrived, the girl found a seat near the back door. But De La Torre also walked to the back and sat across the aisle from her. The girl turned away, but De La Torre crossed the aisle and sat next to her, prosecutors said.



He wrapped his arm around her shoulder as she tried to break free, prosecutors said. He then assaulted her and threatened to kidnap her after school if she did not come to his house.



The bus driver noticed what was happening as the bus approached Fullerton Avenue and immediately stopped the bus. She confronted him and told him she was calling the police, prosecutors said.



De La Torre tried to leave, but the driver locked the doors. He repeatedly told the driver he was sorry and tried to break through the back door, prosecutors said.