An Evanston man was arrested Friday in connection with the battery of a 12-year-old girl in a south Evanston neighborhood.

The girl’s mother reported to police that her daughter was walking in the 500 block of Greenleaf Street at about 7:56 p.m., when a man standing standing at a street corner placed his arms around her neck as she walked past him, Evanston police Cmdr. Joseph Dugan said. The girl screamed and scratched the man, sending him running into an alleyway, before returning home and reporting the attack.

Officers later observed a 19-year-old man in the 1110 block of Chicago Avenue who fit the girl’s description of her alleged assailant, Dugan said. The girl positively identified the man and he was charged with battery, he said.

The man is expected to appear July 10 at the Skokie Courthouse.

South Evanston jewelry store burglarized

An estimated $9,000 worth of jewelry was stolen late Thursday from a south Evanston store.

Police discovered the front door of Virag Jewelers shattered at about 11:30 p.m. after a burglary alarm was set off at the store, 703 Main St., Dugan said. Police also found several broken display cases inside the store, Dugan said.

A witness at the scene told police she saw three men running away from the store, he said. Police were unable to track the burglars’ location but found a necklace in the alley of the 800 block of Custer Avenue, about two blocks away from the store. Detectives are currently investigating the case, Dugan added.

Evanston man attacked with baseball bat

A 49-year-old man was beaten with a baseball bat early Friday morning while walking down a street in central Evanston.

Two men allegedly attacked the Evanston resident at about 12:15 a.m. near Dodge Avenue and Greenleaf Street, Dugan said. Police said the Evanston resident refused to answer their questions but officers overheard him telling another person about the incident, Dugan added.

The man was taken to Evanston Hospital to be treated for injuries to his right leg and arm. Police left the scene after the man remained uncooperative, Dugan said.

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