CHICAGO — A CTA employee has been charged in connection with the death of a man found beaten in a CTA stairwell early Saturday morning.

Police have charged 39-year-old Emmett Richardson with aggravated battery. Richardson was arrested Saturday afternoon and identified as the man who beat a 54-year-old man at the CTA LaSalle Blue Line station.

The 54-year-old was found unresponsive in a stairwell landing around 4:01 a.m. Saturday in the 100 block of West Congress Parkway.

The man was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

President of the CTA Dorval Carter Jr. released a statement that said, “The alleged actions on the part of this CTA employee are absolutely reprehensible. I am appalled by this person’s alleged behavior, which not only is completely contrary to CTA policies but also showed a clear lack of humanity. Behavior like this is an insult to the thousands of hardworking and dedicated men and women who serve CTA customers every day.”

Carter’s statement said Richardson has been removed from the job without pay pending further investigation. He also stated the CTA is cooperating with police.

Richardson appeared in court on Tuesday and was held on $3 million bond.

No additional information has been released.