K9 guards stood by as fare evader pushed woman, breaking her leg at Red Line station: lawsuit

Private security guards stood by last year, appearing to do nothing, as a CTA fare evader knocked over a 61-year-old nurse, fracturing her leg, according to a lawsuit.

The woman is still struggling with pain from the incident at the 95th Street Red Line station, which raises questions about the effectiveness of private K9 security guards, who in this case were standing nowhere near the gates to deter fare evaders, the woman’s lawyer, Ken Hoffman, told the Sun-Times.

“The whole notion behind their contract is to provide a strong deterrent force. But they weren’t standing near the turnstiles,” Hoffman said.

The CTA last year awarded an $89 million, two-year contract to Action K-9 Security, the main defendant in the lawsuit filed in Cook County court in January. The lawsuit claims negligence against the company and its subcontractor First American Security, who employed the guards who allegedly failed to deter the fare evader.

The company’s guards were standing nearby but, according to security videos shared by Hoffman, did not appear to be aware or immediately respond to the crime happening just feet away from them.

The incident happened the morning of July 10, 2025, as plaintiff Hilary Thorne made her way to work at Stroger Hospital, according to the lawsuit.

Before she tapped herself and her bicycle through the accessible gate, a man asked if she could tap him in too, Hoffman said. But, because of her pass, she was unable and said she could not, Hoffman said. Security video shows her walk through the gate and try to close it as the man pushes the gate, knocking her to the ground.

A guard who appeared to notice the fare evader earlier turns his back to the turnstiles in the seconds before Thorne was pushed to the ground, the videos show.

The guards eventually walked after the man and escort him out of the station, Hoffman said. But the damage was already done to Thorne, who broke her leg and, as a result of being immobile, developed a blood clot she’s still recovering from, Hoffman said.

Thorne was unable to work full time for around half a year, Hoffman said. She’s still dealing with leg pain, and now worries about her safety after naming herself in the public lawsuit, Hoffman said.

Action K-9 Security is now the main privately contracted security force for CTA after the agency fired its other unarmed guards earlier this year. Action K-9’s contract says their purpose is to act as a deterrent for potential criminals and fare evaders, Hoffman said.

Hoffman said the guards are instructed not to intervene, although they are allowed to hold someone as any Good Samaritan would be allowed to.

“They say they have a hands-off policy. For $89 million, they should be doing more,” Hoffman said.

In a statement, Action K-9 Security said “we categorically deny the allegations and provide that the allegations being reported do not accurately represent all the facts. We have denied the allegations, continue to do so and will defend the allegations in court. Every day, millions of citizens travel safely through the City of Chicago, in large part due to the security we provide,” the company said.

The CTA and subcontractor First American Security did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The CTA was initially a defendant in the lawsuit when it was filed last September, but the judge later dismissed the agency from the case due to a state immunity law that absolves the CTA of liability for crimes that happen on its property. Hoffman filed the case again in January against the security companies.

The CTA has increasingly relied on private security to patrol its trains and stations in recent years. The CTA reintroduced K9 guards in 2022, signing a $55 million, 18-month deal with Action K-9 to address rising crime on the system, according to city records.

As transit crime began rising again — culminating last fall with a funding threat from the Trump administration last fall — the CTA boosted patrols by Chicago police and, for the first time in recent memory, had Cook County sheriff’s deputies patrol the system. The CTA said in December it was adding dozens of K9 patrols to its system.

In April, the CTA fired its privately-contracted, unarmed security guards, and said it was redirecting the money toward other trained professionals “better equipped” to keep riders safe, including K9 units.

Action K-9 Security’s current contract ends in February 2027.

Hoffman said a trial date has not been set.

Read the lawsuit: