Palos Heights Woman Charged Second Time in Two Years With Stalking Doctor

Photo: Taghreed Abusharif, 51, of Palos Heights | Cook County Sheriff

A woman who was told to stop bothering a Palos Heights doctor has been brought up on new charges of aggravated stalking and violation of probation, prosecutors said in court on Thursday.

Taghreed Abusharif, 51, of the 12600-block of Massasoit Avenue, Palos Heights, was taken into custody on July 22 after she allegedly sent a series of texts and left voicemail messages for a doctor who once treated her in 1998.

Prosecutors said the doctor went to the Palos Heights police station to show the detective his cell phone records of a total of eight text messages that Abusharif sent him between July 20 and July 21.

There were also five voicemails. The detective who is familiar with Abusharif also identified her voice on the voicemails. One of the cell phone numbers was identical to a number that she gave to the Cook County Sheriff’s office.

Prosecutors said that Abusharif was convicted of stalking in April 2013. She was also charged three times in 2012 for criminal trespassing, and in 2008 for telephone harassment, all involving the doctor.

In August 2014, a Cook County judge sentenced Abusharif 180 days in jail, two years’ probation and issued a permanent no contact order with the doctor.

Abusharif’s attorney told the judge that his client was dealing with mental health issues and had become “fixated” on the doctor. She has had contact with the doctor for years and didn’t know the reason for her relapse, her attorney said.

“We’re attempting to address her psychiatric problems,” Abusharif’s attorney said.

Cook County Judge Peter Felice ordered Abusharif to held on no bond for violating the contact order. He set bail at $50,000 on the new charge.

Prosecutors said the doctor was not injured and did not fear for his safety.

“Otherwise I’d set bail for $500,000,” Judge Felice said.

Her next court appearance is July 27.