Meeting Minutes
January 4, 2007
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 1st at 7:00 pm at the 14th District Police Station, 2150 N. California.
Officers Present: SGT Giambrone (3pm - 11pm), PO Crawford (Mornings), PO Gonzalez (new to the 14th District), PO Roger Williams 14th District CAPS office.
Number of Beat 1431 residents present: 8
General Announcements
SGT Giambrone was pleased to announce a 50% decrease in burglaries and an 8% decrease in overall crimes compared to last month. He also had commendations for officer teams responsible for evening robberies for their aggressive and responsive arrests over the month.
Identity theft has been more prevalent in our district. These types of thefts occur when stolen credit cards are used or when criminals attempt to steal financial information from mailboxes and attempt to apply for new credit in the stolen victims names.
Finally, the 14th District Police are currently looking for 2 Black males, between 20 and 25 years of age, weighing approximately 180 lbs, that have been performing robberies along Milwaukee and Western. Beat residents and property owners are encouraged to be vigilant particularly when walking alone at night along these avenues.
Citizen ICAM
From December 1st through December 30th, according to the Citizen ICAM, Beat 1431 suffered 61 crimes, a decrease of 26 from last month (87):
- 12 Person
- 34 Property
- 3 Society
- 7 Domestic (assault and battery)
- 1 Domestic (property)
- 4 Undetermined
Court Advocacy
Thanks to attending court advocacy volunteers attending a court hearing during the last week of December, the following young adults were charged with Criminal Defacement of Property (graffiti) on the 2000 - 2100 block of Bingham Street:
- Rafael Martinez (20 yrs. old): 1 Year Supervision and 40 Hours of Community Service
- Berlit Valladares (18 yrs. old): 1 Year Supervision and 40 Hours of Community Service
- Christian Gatica (20 yrs. old): 1 Year Supervision and 40 Hours of Community Service
- Juan Lopez (18 yrs. old): 6 Months Supervision and 40 Hours of Community Service
The Court Advocate program meets the first Tuesday of every month at the 14th District Police Station at 6pm. For further information, please contact Deb Augustyn at the CAPS Office 312-744-8290.
Winter Services
The Chicago Police Department Senior Citizen Services Section (312-745-5141) published a Winter Services and Safety notice:
Landlords are required to provide adequate heat during the cold months, from September 15th of each year to June 1st of the succeeding year, a minimum temperature of 66 degrees overnight and 68 degrees during the day. The City of Chicago sends inspectors out to investigate all calls of inadequate heat. Warming Centers are available to anyone in immediate danger.
Every Chicagoan should check on relatives and neighbors during extreme cold weather to ensure their safety, particularly the elderly, or those who have a serious medical condition. Anyone at risk can register with the City of Chicago at 311 for a well being call during extreme weather.
Winter Safety:
- Wear layers of warm, dry clothing, hat and gloves.
- In case of frostbite, do not rub affected area; warm gradually; seek medical attention if skin turns blue-purple.
- Know the warning signs of hypothermia: stiff muscles, puffy face, slowed breathing, and mental confusion. If these signs are recognized, call 911.
- Prescription drugs may increase vulnerability to cold; check with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Never use an oven as a heating device. Do not use an extension cord with a space heater.
- Make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly.
- Individuals 60 and older should obtain a yearly flu shot.
For all other services, call the City of Chicago's 24 hour hotline at 311.
Beat 1431 Section Reports
SECTION 1 (Borders: California, Milwaukee, Armitage)
1) During the evening of Dec. 7th a drunk, juvenile delinquent was arrested for stealing a security guard flat bed truck used to haul security dog kennels while it was parked behind Milwaukee at Bingham. PO Macniff (gang officer) made the arrest while chasing the individual on foot fleeing from the crime, no one was hurt, including the dogs that were secured in the truck.
2) An arrest was made on Bernardo Catallano (43 yrs. old) for domestic battery at 2113 Bingham at 2am on Dec. 12th.
3) Juan Torres was arrested Dec. 13th, 1am at 2200 N. Milwaukee with possession of a knife. He resides on the south side, not a part of the 14th district.
4) Four offenders performed a strong armed robbery (without weapons) on Prindville, they are still at large.
5) Between 12/26 and 12/31 there were 2 separate incidences of shots fired on Bingham. The first incident included 9-10 shots fired and the second occasion on New Years Eve had 2 shots fired at 7pm. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the shooting and police response quickly blanketed the area. The shootings might be a response to recent homicides of Spanish Cobra gang members at 3800 Diversey and 4200 Armitage.
6) Known Cobra gang member, J.J. Morgan, is apparently back on Bingham where he has been parking his car (large Buick or Cadillac).
7) 2514 Armitage on corner of Bingham has been hit with Cobra graffiti.
8) Laundromat across from El Cid on Milwaukee has been tagged with gang graffiti in gold spray paint. This Laundromat is frequently tagged.
9) Jim Rhodes mentioned that he was contacted by the main CAPS office downtown to suggest areas in our Beat that could benefit from a police camera. Rhodes asked the residents in attendance if they were in favor of a police camera on Bingham street. Section 1 members at the meeting were in favor of the decision. Rhodes therefore said that he will recommend that a camera be considered for Bingham in Section 1. SGT Giambrone added that the new police cameras are much smaller and have a lower profile than previous cameras making them less obtrusive.
10) During the evening of January 3rd, a resident reportedly had his tires slashed. The resident did not report the incident to the police.
11) A section resident voiced concerns with the number of vacant lots and problem properties on Bingham and criminals drawn to this area that are harassing people. SGT Giambrone who will be working midnights will be making sure attention is made to these concerns. SGT Giambrone also encouraged properties to put surveillance cameras up to help deter and document problems.
action: SGT Giambrone mentioned that 14th District Commander Avila is aware of the problems on Bingham and has plans for targeting the area. Residents are strongly urged to voice complaints of problem property 2113 Bingham by calling Problem Building Area 5 Deputy Chiefs Office. The two officers to reach are Dave Lewis and Sean Newton at 312-746-5737. Residents are strongly urged to call 911 for any emergency or crime in this section. The more calls to 911 the more attention this area will receive.
SECTION 2 & 3 (Borders: Rockwell, Lyndale, Western, Milwaukee)
1) There was an aggravated assault involving a knife at 2100 N. Western at a cleaning store, the offender was arrested and is in custody.
action: Residents and business owners should be aware of the increase in robberies to storefronts on Western. Call 911.
SECTION 4 (Borders: California, Fullerton, Rockwell, Milwaukee)
1) An increase in MLD graffiti has been appearing in this section.
2) Jim Rhodes contacted Alderman Flores' office to check on reports that the Congress Theater has been directing additional parking to Goethe Elementary School. Rhodes, a member of the LSC at Goethe Elementary, was not aware of any parking contracts between the Congress Theater and Goethe.
action: Gangs continue to make their presence known. Residents are urged to call 911 when witnessing any gang activity.
SECTION 5 (Borders: California, Logan Boulevard, Rockwell, Fullerton)
1) Another 4 MLD gang members were caught putting up more gang graffiti at Altgeld and California. These were 4 different gang members than those the police arrested the previous month for tagging the same property. The 14th District Court Advocacy group is encouraging existing volunteers and other residents for additional residents to attend the court case for these gang members (the graffiti defaced a property on the side of our neighboring Beat 1414 to the West).
A resident mentioned the web site http://www.chicagomobs.org as a useful reference for Chicago area gangs. The site provides a long list of known Chicago street gangs, their graffiti, signs and areas where they are currently active.
2) A young male who harassed a section 5 resident after the resident warned him not to tag the rear of the Midas building at Washtenaw and Fullerton back in September was given a court sentence. The criminal did not have a previous record and is moving to Florida.
3) A resident reported that he overheard several males shouting from a neighboring property describing "popping someone". The resident asked SGT Giambrone if overhearing this information is grounds to call 911. SGT Giambrone said if called to service the guys would likely deny it. If the resident recorded the neighbors from his property, however, it may be considered evidence should a crime be connected to the individuals.
action: Residents should continue to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.
SECTION 6 (Borders: Rockwell, Logan Boulevard, Western, Fullerton)
1) 4-5 garages along the 2400 block between Rockwell and Artesian were hit with graffiti during the past month. The graffiti was gang related, believed to be done by the MLDs and Latin Lovers.
2) Cheerios gang members have been seen periodically driving around the section, however, not to their usual infamous degree.
3) A resident living in the property located at the corner of Artesian and Altgeld has been reportedly using the public sidewalk along the property as his own personal wood working area. The police remarked that it is against the law to obstruct sidewalks when performing any work at a property. PO Crawford responded to a call at the address but the resident apparently was no longer on the sidewalk. Residents are encouraged to call if this resident continues to block the public way with his personal projects.
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
5) Gang violence
DISCLAIMER
Beat 1431 CAPS volunteers prepared these meeting minutes to the best of their ability.
