GRESHAM -- On the heels of a brutal attack at a Gresham MAX station last weekend, TriMet officials Monday vowed to expand security on the transit system.

More: Read TriMet's plan for increasing safety

A disabled 71-year-old man who volunteers with at-risk youth was beaten with a baseball bat at a Gresham MAX Transit station Saturday night, according to police. A 15-year-old gang member was taken into custody for attempted murder.

Laurie Chilcote was attacked just before 9:30 p.m. at the Gresham Central MAX Transit Station on NE 8th Street and Kelly Avenue.

According to police, Chilcote was waiting for a bus when three teenagers, including a 15-year-old with a baseball bat, approached him. Police said Abel Antonio Chavez-Garcia and the other teens followed Chilcote off the train and taunted him by calling him old.

Share/Read comments: How have you felt threatened on or near MAX?

Also: Debate about MAX crime heats up

Chavez-Garcia then allegedly hit the man twice in the head, knocking him unconscious.

Officers found Chilcote with extensive head injuries. A K-9 team helped officers track down and arrest Chavez-Garcia.

Chilcote was taken to the Neurology Intensive Care Unit at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital.

Chavez-Garcia was taken to juvenile jail. He was expected to appear in court Monday.

Good Samaritan tried to help, but feared for her life

Chilcote's sister, Caren Topliff, said Chilcote was in serious condition at OHSU Sunday night. She said her brother was suffering from paralysis on part of his face because of his injuries.

He told her the attack was unprovoked.

"I asked him if he'd seen the person and he said 'yes,' " Topliff said. "He said the teen got right up in his face, passed him and then turned around and hit him with the baseball bat."

Gresham Police Chief Carla Piluso said a Good Samaritan called 9-11 and tried to help Chilcote but ran away, fearing the teens would return for retaliation.

"She told us she fled for her life," Piluso said.

Chavez-Garcia, who police say is a known gang member, will be charged under Measure 11. He appeared in court Monday afternoon.

Saturday's beating was the latest in a string of brutal attacks along the MAX line. As mandated by Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis, Gresham police had already planned to bolster patrols along the MAX tracks starting this week.

Also: Police to patrol Gresham MAX

The police patrols are a result of rider complaints and statistics showing crimes near the train lines, Piluso said. They are to begin Wednesday.

However, Piluso said even if the extra patrols had been out Saturday night, the attack may have still happened.

"You know what, there is no way to predict when these things will happen," Piluso said. "...we could have had our officers out and they could have been at the 162nd stop (during the attack)."

KGW photo

Victim Laurie Chilcote.

Topliff said that's not good news for her brother, who relies on public transportation. A disability has kept Chilcote from ever driving a car. Before the attack, Chilcote commuted to the Police Athletics League in Gresham five days a week to help at-risk youth.

"I'm hoping that he's not afraid to take public transportation again," Topliff said. "Since he doesn't drive, that would make him a prisoner in his own home."