BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
July 6, 2006

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 3rd at 7:00 pm at the 14th District Police Station, 2150 N. California.

Officers Present: PO Crawford, PO Park, LT Ruiz, SGT Rubio, PO McNiff, PO Trempe, PO Ortiz, PO Reyes, PO Radulescu, PO Williams, PO Rios

Number of Beat 1431 residents present: 23

General Announcements
- LT Ruiz mentioned that he was impressed with the effective organization and leadership of the Beat 1431 CAPS meeting
- The Mutiny, at 2438 N. Western and Cafe Bolero at 2252 N. Western were both praised for passing a recent undercover test by the 14th District that randomly selects establishments with liquor licenses checking that alcohol is not being sold to minors.

Citizen ICAM
From June 1st through June 14th, according to the Citizen ICAM, Beat 1431 suffered 100 crimes, an increase of nearly 30 from last month:
  - 15 Person
  - 63 Property
  - 2 Narcotics
  - 12 Domestic (person and property)
  - and 8 undetermined

Graffiti and 311
Again, Graffiti continues to be a major problem in our beat as well as citywide. Fullerton avenue along the southern border of section 6 between Western and Rockwell has been especially vandalized by MLD, Latin Lover and Spanish Lord gang graffiti. 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).

14th District Court Advocate Volunteers Are Needed!
As mentioned last month, the 14th District 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."
The court dates vary throughout the day and volunteers can choose which time works best for them. A strong community representation in court is a very effective influence on criminal sentencing and will help keep criminals off the street.
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 (Borders: California, Milwaukee, Armitage)
1) The police camera has been installed at the intersection of Stave and Francis and according to police has already made a visible difference in decreasing the amount of gang activity in this area.
2) Police reported that an influential Cobra gang leader will be moving to the western suburbs. It is not safe to assume this will end Cobra activity as many of the gang members that currently loiter in our Beat do not live in the area.
3) A Latin Lover gang member with a lucrative drug selling business residing on Stave street was arrested last month.
4) 2113 N. Bingham continues to be a sanctuary for illegal gang activity along with additional traffic reported kitty-corner in a 3 flat next to 2 empty lots. PO Trempe remarked that 2113 N. Bingham address is currently liable under the city's Nuisance Abatement Ordinance which levies costly fines to the property owner until the problems are resolved. This property has been reported as a consistent blight to this section for months.
5) A resident reported a Hispanic male with a shaved head in his 20s - 30s wandering near Francis and Stave angrily and irrationally carrying on with himself. The police were called.
6) Graffiti was reported at 2029 N. Bingham near the alley.
7) An arrest was made for graffiti vandalism in this section. The city is augmenting the punishment for graffiti violations by making it a felony, requiring community service hours as well as full payment of the cost of removing the graffiti from the property.
8) A week ago Thursday, June 29th, a young male was hit in the head by a fire hydrant cap by MLD gang members. Apparently, the brother of the injured boy was the original target of the MLDs, however, he escaped and therefore the MLDs decided to injure his younger brother instead. The younger brother was hospitalized and did not suffer a permanent head injury.
9) Several residents complained of daily car honking starting at 4am, especially on Stave street. These drivers are honking in front of buildings where they are picking up individuals. Although it is not known to be a crime, the noise is clearly a disrespectful nuisance to neighborhood residents at any time of day. A car horn should not be used as a doorbell.
10) Garbage scavengers often seen driving pickup trucks sagging under the weight of precariously stacked "treasures" have been seen parking without permits in permit only parking in the area. This is illegal and residents should call 911 to report the nuisance.
action: 2113 Bingham, if indeed subject to the city's Nuisance Ordinance, should receive appropriate fines and attention from city officials. 911 calls are encouraged to maintain police presence in this section.

SECTION 2 (Borders: Rockwell, Lyndale, Western, Milwaukee)
1) There were no large Congress Theater concerts over the past month providing a welcomed break from the crimes and nuisances reported at the theater during the month of May. A resident mentioned the recent acquisition of the House of Blues by Live Nation, Inc. which may or may not have an influence on the number of concerts at the Congress Theater, a House of Blues venue.
2) 2 vans containing a total of approximately 6 - 10 males have been consistently loitering and drinking in and around their vehicles on Friday afternoons at the intersection of Palmer and Maplewood.
3) June 18th, 6 juvenile delinquents were arrested for disturbing the peace while walking south on the 2200 block of N. Maplewood. One of the kids arrested was apparently also involved in the gang shooting later in the month at Haas Park.
action: It is against the law to drink in a parked car (DUI crime) or in the public way (this includes the sidewalk). Local residents are strongly encouraged to call 911 to report these crimes.

SECTION 3 (Borders: Rockwell, Fullerton, Western, Lyndale)
1) Medill Avenue suffered a rash of gang Graffiti.
action: Residents should call 311 to report graffiti, remain vigilant to the increased gang activity.

SECTION 4 (Borders: California, Fullerton, Rockwell, Milwaukee)
1) There has been a dramatic increase in gang activity at Goethe Elementary School. The Latin Lover gang has been maintaining almost a daily presence in the diagonal parking on Talman between Lyndale and Medill throughout the month of June during afternoons and evenings. Groups of 5 - 10 gang members typically wearing red shirts, hats and blue jeans loiter, watching traffic while younger groups of kids ride bicycles apparently keeping a lookout for police or rival gang members. These bikes have been seen locked to the fence surrounding the elementary school as well as residential corner street signs.
Police have identified a couple gang owned cars seen parked at the school: 1) red, Honda civic hatchback, license plate #812 6027 2) blue, Honda accord sedan with body damage along the entire driver's side, license plate #834 6305.
Finally, PO Trempe commented that the loitering problem would be much worse if the basketball hoops were installed in the school playground. Basketball rims are apparently a magnet for larger groups attracting more gang attention.
2) Known gang member "Gizmo", who was arrested with several others in the month of May, has been released and has been seen again at Goethe School.
3) Neither PO Robles nor the business owners of "Marianos" he offered to bring to the next CAPS meeting were present. Cocaine, marijuana and heroin drug dealing and gang activity has been rampant surrounding this local vendor.
There were 5 drug related arrests at "Marianos" in June, 2 for cocaine, 3 for marijuana. The dealers/users are often seen wandering in the parking lot behind the vendor under the El tracks on Prindville.
The Alderman's Office will attempt to hold a community meeting with the business owners of "Marianos" in attempt to hold them more accountable for being a sanctuary for this criminal activity. If they do not cooperate they will be jeopardizing their restaurant license.
action: Calls to 911 and strong police presence are needed at Goethe Elementary School and the surrounding diagonal parking on Talman to discourage the Latin Lover gang activity. Also, residents are strongly urged to call 911 when they see the drug activity behind Marianos.

SECTION 5 (Borders: California, Logan Boulevard, Rockwell, Fullerton)
1) At 3pm Saturday, July 1st there was a shooting with injuries at Haas Park involving rival gangs the MLDs and the Latin Lovers. The injuries were sustained by the gang members, no innocent bystanders including children were physically harmed. MLD gang members loitering at the playground apparently threw a brick at a passing car being driven by rival Latin Lover gang members. The car then turned around and it's passengers jumped out prompting a fight which then escalated to a shooting between the rival gangs. One of the gang shooters was only 13 years old. A local resident called 911 to report the incident while it was occurring. Several officers responded to the incident. Police on bicycles were able to stop one of the cars involved in the shooting which had one of the injured gang shooters in the back seat and arrests were made. The driver of the vehicle that was stopped with the injured gang member in the backseat is a Latin Lover gang member named "PJ" who, according to PO Trempe, resides at 2411 Fairfield. The police commended the resident who called in the crime offering detailed descriptions of those involved, greatly influencing the arrests. Residents also recognized and applauded the efforts of the police in their attention and handling of the situation.
Haas Park for the last 15 years has been considered MLD Altgeld Washtenaw (MLD AW) "turf". Recently, the Latin Lovers going by the name of Latin Lovers Altgeld Washtenaw (LL AW) have been attempting to claim the park as their "turf". It is this battle that seems to be causing the context for the escalated gang activity at the park. The police are clearly aware of these turf wars and have assigned additional police attention to area parks including Haas and Humboldt.
Despite this recent activity, neighborhood residents are encouraged to continue frequenting the park and not be deterred from enjoying this valuable greenspace. Continued positive resident attention to the park will also help decrease the gang presence.
2) As reported at the CAPS meeting last month, the 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.
3) Between 4pm and 5pm young males not recognized as neighborhood residents have been seen loitering within the Haas Park building.
4) Graffiti was reported at Washtenaw and Altgeld, Rockwell and Fullerton, and Talman and Altgeld. Residents suggested that the property owners should consider using cameras to help deter the vandalism - even cheap, fake cameras were reported to be useful deterrents.
5) There was a domestic offense requiring the police to temporarily take custody of an 8 year old child accidentally left unattended in a residence for several hours.
action: Residents are urged to call 911 to help decrease the MLD AW and LL AW gang violence. Police to continue presence in area to address gang activity and vandalism.

SECTION 6 (Borders: Rockwell, Logan Boulevard, Western, Fullerton)
1) The Cheerios gang continues to be active in this section.
June 6th, at 5:45pm, gang members Ricky Fischer and Mars Ferrar were seen driving in a gold Lexus with temporary license plate #219G425.
Later in the month, June 30th, during the early evening Mars and Ivan Burmudez were seen interacting with passengers in a maroon Jeep with license plate #T23 1122 at 2501 N. Artesian.
The gang has been loitering in alleys between 2400 N. Campbell and Artesian and the 2500 blocks of Western and Artesian, afternoons and evenings.
2) Gang graffiti went up in the neighborhood on the night of the 4th of July:
- Tile Outlet at 2434 W. Fullerton was vandalized on all 3 sides of the building - MLD and Spanish Lord over-tagging. The 311 service request number is #0601197527.
- 2606 W. Altgeld was tagged with gang graffiti, 311 SRN #0601197567.
- 2500 N. Western was also tagged with gang graffiti.
3) Ivan Morales has been seen selling drugs at 2451 N. Campbell. It was also reported that he has been seen holding his baby in his arms while making these drug deals. Kids on bicycles are being used as runners and scouts. A van has also been seen regularly stopping by this address.
4) A new restaurant called "Caliente" is planned to open in the vacant building at the corner of Rockwell and Fullerton (formerly "Missala"). Residents are interested in finding out whether the restaurant owners will be seeking a liquor license and a PPA (Public Place of Amusement) license which would allow the establishment to charge for "some form of entertainment".
action: Month after month, the Cheerios gang continues to be a blight in this section. Graffiti continues to be a major problem and residents should continue to call 311 to help remove the vandalism and deter more from occurring. Residents should continue to call 911 to report gang activity.


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

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