BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
June 1, 2006

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 6th at 7:00 pm at Nazareth Church, 2500 N. Talman.

Officers Present: PO Crawford, PO Rivera, PO Robles, SGT Schackelmayer, PO McNiff, PO Strazzante, PO Ortiz and Liz Rios CAPS Organizer

Number of Beat 1431 residents present: 16

General Announcements

Citizen ICAM
From May 1st through May 25th, according to the Citizen ICAM, Beat 1431 suffered a total of 69 crimes:
  - 15 Person
  - 41 Property
  - 3 Narcotics
  - 8 Domestic (person and property)
  - and 2 undetermined

Graffiti and 311
Graffiti continues to be a major problem in our beat as well as citywide. Residents again are strongly encouraged to call Graffiti Blasters (dial 311) to report incidences of graffiti. Anyone can call and report graffiti at a particular location, you do not have to own or reside at the particular vandalized property to report the crime. After reporting an incident to the 311 call taker, ask for the Service Request Number (SRN) that is assigned to your request in case your request goes unanswered for several days. You can call 311 again and ask for a status update on your SRN (you can also share this SRN with friends and have them inquire as well).

A resident reported a relatively recent act of vandalism at the new Concordia Avondale community center being built at 3300 N. Whipple just outside our beat to the west. Over $30,000 dollars worth of damage was caused by the vandals. Police were led to the vandals by using information found at the blog site MySpace.com where the vandals were bragging about the damage they caused. The the full story is available at the Chicago Suntimes: http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-tag26.html

City Noise Ordinance
The city council passed a new ordinance against playing music that is louder than a normal conversation at a distance of 100 feet between 10pm and 8am. A first offense is $300 and increases to $500 and then $1000 for second and third offenses if occurring within the same year. Call 911 if you are being disturbed between these hours due to this level of noise.

Fireworks, Garage Arson and Alley Fires
Soon we will be hearing the sounds of fireworks as we approach the July 4th holiday. SGT Schackelmayer reported that residents can report fireworks being illegally set off, however, unless a major bounty of fireworks is found, this offense is considered a misdemeanor and may be a lower priority to other police emergencies.

People are still encouraged to call 911 if your peace is disturbed whatever the cause.

The Bomb and Arson Department ((312) 746-7619) have the following helpful advice to help prevent garage arson and alley fires:
  - Trash Storage and Removal: do not allow your trash to overflow your city Supercart (a.k.a. "garbage can"). If possible keep your garbage in the yard until garbage pick up day, and away from any structures. If you are doing a spring cleanup project and have a large quantity of trash, call the ward office and request a bulk trash pick up. Available materials (trash) are often ignited and the resulting fire can cause property damage to your garage or home. A juvenile prank of setting a garbage can on fire can quickly get out of control and results can be hazardous. Keep your trash cans and any large items, ie. a mattress, bundles of papers, etc. inside of your yard and take them out on the day of garbage pick up.
  - Vehicle Fires: vehicles parked in an alley or vacant lot are more likely to be set on fire by vandals than one parked on the street. If you observe any abandoned or dilapidated vehicles in the alley call your district police or 311 to have them removed.
  - Garage Security: Locks: use deadbolt locks not spring locks. Use one way screws which cannot be removed. Hinges: pin door hinges on all exterior doors so the door cannot be removed, even with the hinge post out. Overhead doors: doors can be easily secured with a padlock through the roller track. Use a double locking hardened steel padlock that requires a key. Remove any identifying numbers on the lock or the burglar can order a key to fit it.
  - Lights: lights are a good deterrent. Sodium vapor automatic lights, photo sensitive switches on outside lights that go on and off automatically are all good. Keep shrubbery and trees trimmed around the garage.
  - Be a nosy neighbor: be aware of strange vehicles or persons in and around your alley. Advise the police if you have any abandoned vehicles or suspicious people loitering in your alley or vacant lot.

Mayor Daley's Chicago Summer Assembly
This event will be June 24th at Navy Pier (official web site: http://citizenportal.chicagopolice.org:8080/apex/f?p=2006:1:1164430358629944). This is a great opportunity to visit with the numerous Chicago departments and to participate in various programs and workshops. A bus will be running to and from the event from the 14th District Police Station the day of the event. Breakfast and lunch will be provided at the event free of charge. Registration will be from 8am - 9am.

Court Advocates
CAPS is in need of court advocates from our community,"The judicial process can be a daunting experience. Victims are sometimes intimidated by the process and the defendant. Court Advocates provide the necessary brace some victims need to continue with their case and testimony.
Court Advocacy has a direct impact on the safety of our neighborhoods. By attending court, advocates send a strong message to the defendant and the judicial system that they are interested in their community, its problems, possible solutions, and will not accept things as they once were."
If you feel you may be interested in being a Court Advocate please call or stop by the 14th District to learn more (312-744-8290).

Beat 1431 Section Reports
SECTION 1
1) A police camera will be installed at the intersection of Stave and Francis after a 35 to 3 vote held by section residents on May 11th. The exact location is currently being determined and there is no set date for the final installation at this time. Officers at the 14th District Station will be able to view the activity captured by the camera at the station. PO Strazzante commented that the camera is not infrared and that the images it captures can be blocked by trees and other obstructions, however, the presence of the camera alone should deter criminal activity.
2) The 2000 - 2100 blocks of Bingham are rife with Cobra gang activity. Several residents reported gang members loitering in the street with golf clubs and baseball bats carefully watching oncoming street traffic and selling drugs. Notorious criminals Crespo and Vasquez have been seen in the neighborhood, however, both are expected to serve jail sentences based upon recent convictions.
3) Lino Quinn, Tony Crespo, J.J. and Jeffrey Morgan, known Cobra gang members, have been seen loitering at 2043 and 2025 Bingham late in the evening through the early in the morning (5:30am).
4) A few 15 year old males on bicycles were involved in a shooting on Stave between 4:00 - 4:30pm in the afternoon May 30th. No one was harmed in the shooting. They were also seen on their bicycles at Armitage and Western and are believed to be members of the Spanish Lords.
5) A resident reported potential drug activity just south of the California "El" stop near St. George behind the property at 2201 N. California. A black male in his 30s commonly seen wearing a baseball cap, and a white male in his 40s with a mustache and sun glasses also wearing a baseball cap, have been seen making exchanges with a blue car and an older gray car with plate #8519141 between 11am - 1pm and 3:30pm - 5pm.
6) PO Strazzante and PO McNiff reported that they arrested a male that has been seen tresspassing in numerous properties in this section and is believed to have broken into a few of the residences.
action: Bingham remains a major problem with gang activity. Residents are strongly urged to keep calling 911. The more calls, the more attention this area should receive. Also, please call 311 to remove graffiti in the area whether it is your property or not that has been vandalized. Police are required for continued presence in area paying particular attention to the 2000 - 2100 blocks of Bingham.

SECTION 2
1) The Congress Theater events over the past month have caused parking problems and acts of violence.
- On May 28th, after the "Best of Both Worlds" event, between 10 - 11pm there was a stabbing in the theater, the victim survived and the stabber was arrested.
- After a recent rap concert, the security detail for the artist was blocking the alley behind the theater while the artist signed autographs. The police made it clear that the alley needs to be clear for safety reasons and the Theater should not allow this public way to be blocked.
2) Recently released felon, Anthony Jones, has indeed moved back to 2206 Campbell. As was reported last month, he is a known sex offender (targeting prostitutes) and a member of the Maniac Latin Disciple gang. The 14th district police as well as the First Ward Alderman's office are aware of his return.
3) SGT Schackelmayer announced that there are a couple young Hispanic males that have been seen carrying replica pistols and performing "stick ups" on people near the Walgreens on Milwaukee near Armitage. They have also been seen near the area of Margie's Candies late evenings from 7pm - 2am. They are believed to be living around McLean and Western. Please call 911 if you see these kids and give as complete a description of them from head to toe as possible.
action: Congress security and management need to better control crowd and parking practices. Residents are strongly encouraged to call 911 to report gang activity especially in light of Anthony Jones' return.

SECTION 3
1) Gun shots were reported at 4:30pm on May 20th, police rapidly responded to the calls, however, the shooters were not found.
2) Owner of Danny's Liquors is being counseled by the 14th District police and the Alderman's office on how to better handle the transient individuals that have been congregating behind the establishment.
3) Graffiti was reported in a few areas.
action: This section has seen consistent gang activity during the last 3 months. Residents are strongly encouraged to call 911.

SECTION 4
1) Automatic gun fire was reported around 11:30pm, Sunday evening, May 28th. A dark sedan without it's lights on was seen traveling south of Fullerton between Rockwell and Belden firing shots. No one was apparently harmed during the shooting.
2) From 7pm - 8:30pm on May 6th, a two-tone Lincoln sedan was seen loitering at Lyndale and Talman consistent with the pattern observed during the month of April (and reported in the minutes last month) of the Latin Lover gang recruiting.
3) Between 9:30pm - 10:30pm several young Hispanic gang members were reportedly loitering just outside the Goethe Elementary school campus watching cars near the intersection Talman and Belden.
4) PO Strazzante reported that known gang member "Gizmo", owner of the two-tone Lincoln sedan seen loitering at Lyndale and Talman avenues was arrested for drug possession within the proximity of a school which should keep him off the streets for a while. The car was also impounded.
5) Latin Lover and MLD (Maniac Latin Disciple) gang graffiti vandalized the condominium building at Washtenaw and Belden.
6) "Wheelchair Tony" sightings continue, recently tresspassing at Osco Drug. This individual is often seen on Milwaukee avenue and is usually looking for cars to break into. He is notorious for throwing a spark plug at a car window, making it shatter, allowing him to push in the window to steal whatever is inside. Anyone who sees this criminal being pushed down a street should immediately call 911 and describe his whereabouts.
7) The business owners of "Marianos" will be invited to the next CAPS meeting by PO Robles to discuss the noticeable gang and drug activity on their premises. If the problem continues a complaint will be filed to the licensing commissioner.
8) The Tini Martini lounge at Milwaukee and Talman had a knife stabbing incident during the last week. The police were able to get the stabber but the victim would not press charges.
action: Goethe Elementary School and surrounding diagonal parking continues to be a sanctuary for Latin Lover gang activity. Residents must continue to call 911 to bring more police attention to this problem.

SECTION 5
1) There was a self-inflicted shooting accident involving a Maniac Latin Disciple on the 2400 N. block of Fairfeld during the evening of May 19th or 20th. The victim tried to convince police he was wounded by another but it was clear that he shot himself while his gun was pointed down in his belt, he narrowly missed hitting a major artery. On May 9th this shooter along with a few fellow MLD members had been arrested by PO Strazzante and PO Trempe for obstructing traffic on Fairfield near the cul de sac off of Fullerton.
2) During the weekend of May 13th-14th, heavy gang loitering was witnessed on Fullerton at Haas Park.
3) Police announced that no person over the age of 13 is allowed within the Haas kiddy play lot unless they have a child who is using the play equipment. Police are using this law to help them disperse and arrest gang members who are often seen loitering in the playground.
4) Residents reported continued gang activity at the vacant lot at 2415 N. Fairfield. This gang activity is believed to be influenced by the 40+ year old male Latin Lover gang member who resides at 2418 Washtenaw. Individuals have been seen ringing doorbells, knocking on the surrounding fencing and simply loitering at 2415 N. Fairfield.
5) The upcoming Haas Park movie night will have police protection from a parked car and officers on bicycles.
6) Resident reported that she had several flowers stolen out of her garden.
action: Drug and Latin Lover gang activity has been reported for the last three months. Residents of this section should call 911 at the sight of a crime and are encouraged to attend the beat meetings to help provide more information and support.

SECTION 6
1) Ricky Fisher, Ivan Burmudez and Marciano Ferrar, known Cheerios gang members continue to terrorize this section. They have been seen vandalizing street signs and electrical boxes with their gang tagging, often moving between their various cars: white Dodge Durango, red sedan, and station wagon. These criminals have been seen selling drugs and drinking in public.
2) The red station wagon with believed expired temp plate #780F907 continues to park in this section.
3) On May 9th, Tile Outlet was badly tagged with large Spanish Lords gang graffiti.
action: Call 911 to report expired temp license plate numbers, the cars will be impounded. The Cheerios gang is a monthly problem and their graffiti and drug activity continues to be a blight in this section. Residents should continue to call 911.


Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) Gang loitering and recruiting
2) Gang graffiti
3) Gang drug trafficking

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