BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
September 2, 2004

The next meeting will be October 7th, 2004 at the 14th District Police Station, 2150 N. California at 7:00 pm.

Officers Present: SGT Giambrone, PO Crawford, PO Schilling, PO Muniz of Community Policing

SECTION 1
1) Daily drug activity during all hours of the day was reported at 2105 N. Bingham.
2) Gang members frequently congregrate at the grocery store located at the corner of Stave and Francis Pl at the end of the school day harassing and hazing students.
3) Street racing of motorcycles continues to be a problem (reported last month) on Stave and Bingham during the evenings from 7pm - 11pm. These delinquents have been consistently seen loitering at 2064 Bingham.
4) The individual driving a white, GMC Jimmy SUV reported last month in section 4 as a drug dealer has been seen in section 1 and is a known Cobra gang member.
5) There are reports that street lights are being knocked out on Francis Pl. between Stave and Point.
6) Gang activity on the 2000 block of Stave has been increasing the last couple of days.
action: Police need to continue aggressive presence. Recurring patterns of illegal activity continue to be reported.

SECTION 2
1) A gang shooting - believed to be rival Cobras and Disciples - occurred today, 9/2/2004, at Charleston and Campbell. The police were near the scene when the shooting occurred, however, the shooters escaped.
2) Drug activity was reported at McClean and Western Avenues along with loitering around 2435 McClean including 3-4 males on bikes. These same individuals have also been seen in cars drinking and littering and playing loud music.
action: Gang activity seems to be increasing in sections 2 and 3. Police seem to be aware of the problem, residents are encouraged to call 911. SGT Giambrone recommends when calling 911 for reports of drug use, explicitly ask that Gang/Tactical units be dispatched if possible.

SECTION 3
1) Danny's Liquor continues to be a sanctuary for drinking, fighting and drug use, especially catering to the homeless.
2) The rival Disciples and Cobra gangs have been intensifying activity in this area.
action: Police and Alderman need to confront Danny's Liquors selling to addicts.

SECTION 4
1) At 12:30am August 8th, an arrest was made with the aid of police gang/tactical units of two young men with a gun hiding in the bushes in the 2200 block of Talman. Both offenders were reported to be Latin Lover gang members active in Section 4.
2) The individual in a white SUV reported last month continues to be active on Rockwell and Talman avenues around Goethe School dealing drugs. (as well as appearing in section 1)
3) Gang loitering at Geothe School continues. Recent reports indicate increased activity from 6pm into the evening.
4) There was no information on the status of the police camera for Goethe Elementary School.
action: Gang activity and gun violence remains a consistent problem. Weekday late afternoon and early evenings, and weekend evenings seem to draw increased activity. Talman avenue apparently has several households fostering gang members, residents are strongly encouraged to call 911.

SECTION 5 & 6
1) Missala (corner "restaurant" at Fullerton and Rockwell) continues to be under investigation. Neighborhood residents along with Alderman Manny Flores and 14th District Commander Avila met Wednesday, August 25th to discuss the continued problems created by this establishment. Missala has been warned to "start behaving like a restaurant" or it will face futher consequences. The "restaurant" must also close at 11pm nightly. Garbage remains a constant nuisance.
2) The Brentano Math & Science Academy was reported to be a location for recent gang recruitment for the Disciples.
3) Car break-ins were reported on the 2400 block of Logan Blvd. Police advise to leave absolutely nothing in your car to discourage theft.
4) The persistent, criminal thug, Ivan Bermudez, was arrested for expired plates after the CAPS meeting last month by PO Schilling. This is great news.
5) The usual Cheerios gang members remain active in this area, frequently circling the Artesian block establishing their drug trade.
6) Still no progress has been reported on the Derek Tate, Jr., murder on June 6, 2003 at Fullerton and Artesian. Again, Area 5 officers were not present to provide their promised update on the case.
action: Alderman and 14th District Commander to maintain pressure on Missala. Police to monitor gang loitering on Artesian and continued activity on Campbell.


Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) Danny's liquor has been an annual fixture in section 3 for nurturing alcohol and drug abuse especially among the homeless.
2) Motorcycle drag racing at Stave and Bingham and the 2000 block of Bingham and Stave involving gangs and drugs continue to require persistent police attention.
3) Gang activity: all sections in BEAT 1431 are seeing intensifying levels of gang activity.
4) Gang turf wars and violence at Goethe School.
5) Residents should continue to call 911 and are encouraged to establish phone trees to increase the number of 911 calls.


DISCLAIMER
Beat 1431 CAPs volunteers prepared these meeting minutes to the best of their ability.