BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
November 2, 2006

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

Officers Present: SGT Giambrone (3pm - 11pm), PO Trempe (3rd Watch 3pm - 11pm), PO Strazzante (3rd Watch), PO Radulescu (Midnights), PO Augustyn 14th District CAPS office, Field Training Officer Karwowski (7am - 3pm).

Number of Beat 1431 residents present: 14

General Announcements

The officers present articulated the importance of being aware of your surroundings when in public as we enter the holiday season. Remember to keep gifts and belongings out of site when parking your car in public places. Importantly, place belongings in trunks and other concealed places before arriving at your destination to prevent the possibility of thieves from seeing you transfer your valuables before leaving your vehicle. Women walking with purses should consider placing them inside jackets. Police discourage carrying purses around the neck which could lead to serious injury if a purse snatcher forcefully attempts to steal the bag. Cellphones should also be carried and kept separate from purses providing an opportunity to call for help (911) in case the purse is stolen. Finally, walking with headphones is not a safe practice as they impair your ability to sense a potential criminal approaching from behind.

Citizen ICAM
From October 1st through October 31st, according to the Citizen ICAM, Beat 1431 suffered 64 crimes, a decrease of 24 from last month (91):
- 10 Person
- 47 Property
- 1 Society (Narcotics)
- 3 Domestic (assault and battery)
- 3 undetermined

Beat 1431 Section Reports
SECTION 1 (Borders: California, Milwaukee, Armitage)
1) 2113 Bingham continues to be a major problem property. PO Trempe reported that a 14 year old daughter living at this address drove the family minivan down Bingham, side swiping 4 - 5 parked cars. When officers arrived at the address to question the girl, the father and owner of the property would not provide access to the police. PO Trempe also reported that this same daughter along with two other girlfriends were arrested after trying to assault a girl at Chase Elementary School, refusing to leave the school grounds after being addressed by school security. Also, a young male was cut across the face with a knife by a MLD gang member and was seen seeking sanctuary on the porch of this address. Police arrived to investigate the injured male and he refused to file a report or prosecute.
PO Trempe has spoken with Problem Building Area 5 Deputy Chiefs Office about this particular property and urges residents to call their office to voice complaints. The two officers to reach are Dave Lewis and Sean Newton at 312-746-5737. This property has been targeted again this month as a problem building by the police.
2) There has been a major increase in graffiti in this section, particularly at the intersection of Point and Francis, the alley off of Armitage and 2029 Bingham. MLD's, Cobras and Latin Kings are actively tagging in this section. Several of the tags also included the names of the tagger.
3) Friday, Oct. 27th, a resident had two side windows on his vehicle broken by pellet gunfire, local gang members were believed responsible.
4) On October 18th, gang tactical officers arrested gang members at 2010 N. Stave, one was found carrying a loaded 9 mm Hi Point firearm with additional live rounds (although they were the wrong caliber). One of these members arrested was involved in gang recruitment at Goethe Elementary School.
5) October 14th, strong armed robbery, victim's wallet was stolen.
6) There was a criminal sexual assault charge - classified as "predatory" - on the 2100 block of Bingham. The victim was a 7 year old and the predator was the "play daddy/guardian". Police have the predator in custody.
7) A property owner of 2019 Bingham reported that one of her tenants was assaulted by two Latino woman 6:30pm on Oct. 31st just outside the property. The young woman was pelted with eggs and then physically struck. The women who reportedly assaulted her apparently live on the second floor of the same property and are believed to be related (aunt and niece (18 and 16 yr old respectively). The property owner reported that her victimized tenant called 911 several times before the police finally arrived 45 minutes later. Once there, the police asked the young woman what she would like them to do, since the women who assaulted her had fled from the property. The victim simply asked to receive an apology from her attackers but otherwise she was not sure what to do in this situation. The property owner was disappointed that the officers did not file a report and provide direction as to how to handle the situation for this young woman. Officers present at the meeting explained that it is not unusual for victims of a crime to not want to press charges or file a report. SGT Giambrone suggested that the victim come forward and identify her attackers and the police will make an arrest.
8) A resident followed up with the officers present on police reports she filed for assault and property crimes she suffered in September from area Latino gang members. She also reported that she has been threatened on several other occasions by gangs. SGT Giambrone tactfully indicated that these unfortunate experiences she has been victimized by are likely the result of rival gang retribution against her son, a known and previously convicted Spanish Lord, who is now living with her. SGT Giambrone and the officers present were going to follow up on the status criminal cases.
9) SGT Giambrone reported that the police camera that has been under criticism the last several months for it's partially obstructed placement, was used in a targeted mission assisting officers with a warrant arrest. SGT Giambrone mentioned the criminal was dressed to kill, she was found with a very large knife concealed in her clothing when arrested outside her apartment.
10) "Rogue Offender" Christoval Villareal was arrested with 10 grams of cocaine in October. He was arrested back in August of this year with heroine and cocaine.
11) Alderman Flores' office is currently pursuing Mariano's to address gang and drug activity on their premises which has been reported over the last several months.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call Property at 2113 Bingham needs 14th District attention as well as the State's attorneys office. Also, residents are strongly urged to call 911 when they see the drug activity behind Marianos providing very detailed descriptions of the offenders.

SECTION 2 (Borders: Rockwell, Lyndale, Western, Milwaukee)
1) Residents reported continued unacceptable parking practices by the Congress Theater at the Chase Elementary School. Chase Elementary has a contract with the Congress Theater offering their school playground/parking lot for event parking which is then remunerated by the theater. Back in February, Alderman Flores apparently reviewed this parking contract with Chase Elementary School. The parking practices have been contested for most of this year by residents. Over the last month, residents have witnessed the Congress Theater parking valets parking and driving cars on sidewalks endangering residents who are walking in the neighborhood. Additionally, parking valets are apparently rearranging landscaping to accommodate additional parking such as moving wooden planters surrounding trees on the sidewalks. Several residents also noted that the parking lot practices are destroying past beautification projects resident volunteers have contributed to the school. Additionally, the parking contract has exacerbated the problems of the school being a sanctuary for loitering, littering and loud, bawdy behavior by event patrons. Police have had to be involved during events in order to help minimize the illegal parking practices and continue to ticket cars that are illegally parked but note that these tickets penalize the wrong people - the Congress and Chase School should be responsible for the parking tickets, not the patrons who have the Congress valets park them illegally.
The Chase School Principal has been contacted several times by residents about the problem and is reportedly unresponsive, the same is said of the Congress Theater.
Residents are urged to call Alderman Flores (773-278-0101), Principal Gonzalez at Chase Elementary School (773-534-4185) and the Congress Theater (773-486-6672) to put pressure on these parties to be responsible for this illegal and disrespectful parking situation.

SECTION 3 (Borders: Rockwell, Fullerton, Western, Lyndale)
1) Branch manager at Mid America bank on Western reportedly was impressed by the quick response by FBI and police after it was robbed in September. There was no mention as to whether any arrests have been made. This bank has been robbed twice in the last 6 months apparently.
2) A juvenile was arrested while tagging a building on Campbell. He is not gang affiliated and does not live in the neighborhood.

SECTION 4 (Borders: California, Fullerton, Rockwell, Milwaukee)
1) A white, Oldsmobile sedan, license plate #938 3731 has been seen double parked at the diagonal Goethe Elementary school parking on Talman before and after school hours playing extremely loud music while loitering.
2) A Latin Lover gang member seen loitering at Goethe Elementary School after school hours attempting to recruit or harass school kids was arrested with possession of a gun by police. SGT Giambrone said this gang member is a student at Clemente High School. Apparently this is a common practice, lesser ranking/influential gang members at Clemente have been loitering at elementary schools such as Goethe to harass young children, hit on girls and recruit.
3) Resident reported a mugging near the Belden and Milwaukee intersection, behind Max Gerber at approximately 8am Halloween morning. A young woman had her purse snatched by another young Hispanic woman. The victim struggled with the mugger before giving up her purse. The resident heard the victim yell for help and dialed 911 while noting the license plate number of the car believed to pick up the fleeing mugger - a silver Pontiac Grand Am sedan with IL temporary plates, #200H501. The victim was wearing headphones before she was mugged.
4) Garage at Lyndale and Talman was tagged with blue MLD graffiti between the hours of 7 - 10pm November 1st. Another building further south on Talman near Milwaukee also was tagged with gang graffiti.
5) A resident reported that his house was egged Halloween night.
action: Gang activity at Goethe Elementary School needs to be addressed. Residents are urged to call 911 when witnessing any gang activity.

SECTION 5 (Borders: California, Logan Boulevard, Rockwell, Fullerton)
1) Between 7:30 - 8pm the night of Halloween there were shots fired at 2427 Washtenaw. The shooting is believed to be gang related. Casings were found in the alley.
2) Gang members were arrested after they were caught throwing rocks at passing cars and flashing gang signs at 2730 Fullerton avenue.
3) Resident reported seeing numerous spent syringes on the street near the Midas garage and Haas Park on Washtenaw.
4) The Haas Park construction is preventing park facilities from providing programs for youth in the area.
5) MLD and Latin Lover graffiti was reported in this section
6) The Liberty Bank on Fullerton was apparently "held up", Nov 2nd.
7) Resident requested more police presence during the weekends on Washtenaw to ticket cars that are illegally parking in permit zones.
action: Gang activity is still rampant in this section and residents should continue to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti removal.

SECTION 6 (Borders: Rockwell, Logan Boulevard, Western, Fullerton)
1) Graffiti was reported on the 2500 block of Artesian near Western
2) Cheerios gang driving and loitering around Artesian continues. Several garbage cans in the alley behind Artesian have Cheerios gang tags of "CHE" or "38" where gang members are believed to stash drugs.
action: Residents should continue to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.


Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) Property at 2113 Bingham
2) Gang graffiti
3) Gang loitering and recruiting
4) Gang drug trafficking
5) Gang violence

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