BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
August 2nd, 2007

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 6th at 7:00 pm at Chase Elementary School, 2021 N. Point.

Officers Present: PO Hondzinski (3rd watch), PO Komo (3rd watch), SGT Giambrone, PO Crawford (days), PO Deb Augustyn (14th District CAPS Office)

Go directly to the following sections:
General Announcements
CLEARMap
Court Advocacy
Beat 1431 Section Reports


General Announcements
Sergeant Giambrone announced that Beat 1431 had the 3rd lowest total index crimes and the 2nd lowest total verified crimes (index and non-index) between July 1st and July 30th in the 14th District. Beat 1412 continues to have the lowest crime in the 14th District.
Index crimes are the most serious offenses and include:
- HOMICIDE 1ST & 2ND DEGREE
- CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT
- ROBBERY
- AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
- AGGRAVATED BATTERY
- BURGLARY
- LARCENY
- MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT
- ARSON

Chicago Gun Buy Back
Deb Augustyn reported that the gun turn in for Chicago on July 29th brought in 6700 guns. The city ran out of money on hand for the weapons and had to give out IOUs. This was the largest number seized nationwide. The 14th District had one location that received 134 guns and 22 replicas.

Greater Goethe Neighborhood Association (GGNA)
GGNA is inviting Beat 1431 residents to become new members. GGNA encompasses the Beat 1431 area. You can learn more about GGNA on this Web site (http://www.ggna.org). There will be an upcoming fund raiser in the Fall that will attempt to raise funds to acquire musical instruments for children at Goethe Elementary School.

14th District Community Alert
Reference ID HN-397425 & HN-397494
The Chicago Police Department is investigating two incidents which occurred in the 14th District on June 10, 2007 at 11:00pm and on June 11, 2007 at 12:00am.

In the first incident, an attempted criminal sexual assault occurred as the victim walked in the 3100 N. block of Sawyer Ave.
In the second incident, an assault occurred as the victim walked in the 3000 North block of Elbridge Ave.

The offender in the first incident is described as a male white Hispanic, early 30's, approximately 5'02", slender build, black hair, and brown eyes. Last seen wearing a brown, possibly camouflaged, long sleeve shirt, blue pants, and cowboy boots. The offender was armed with a knife.

In the second incident, the offender is described as a male white Hispanic, early 20's, 5'02"-5'03", slender build, black hair, and brown eyes. Last seen wearing a long sleeve camouflaged shirt and dark colored pants. The offender was armed with a knife.

If you have any information, contact Area Five Detective Division at (312) 746-8282.

National Night Out 2007
Tuesday August 7th, at 6:30pm
Humboldt Park Boat House
1359 N. Humboldt Blvd.
Featured Activities:
- Movie (starting at dusk): Open Season
- Jumping Jack
- Popcorn
- Bingo for Seniors
- Bean Toss
- Raffle
- Refreshments

Bring your family, your neighbors, and friends and lets take back our community.
SAY NO TO GANG VIOLENCE

The 14th District would like to thank the following sponsors: Target, Domino's Pizza, Alderman Manny Flores, Alderman Billy Ocasio, Alderman Rich Mell, Alderman Rey Colon, and Alderman Scott Waguespack

Community Back to School Fair
Invitation provided by 39th District State Representative, Maria A. "Toni" Berrios & 1st Ward Alderman, Manual "Manny" Flores

Friday, August 10th, 2007
10am - 2pm
Haas Park, 2402 N. Washtenaw (corner of Washtenaw and Fullerton)

Free Services:
- Immunizations
- KidCare and FamilyCare
- Lead Screenings
- Dental Information
- Blood Pressure Screening
- Obesity Information
- Asthma Information
- Fun "Back to School" giveaways and prizes!

For more information, please call Rep. Berrios at (773) 235-3939 or Alderman Flores at (773) 278-0101.

Save the Date! CAPS Block Club Fair
Come and join with your neighbors. Let's make our neighborhood better and improve the quality of life in our community.

6:30pm, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007
Mozart Park
2036 N. Avers

For more information, please call Liz Rios, 14th District CAPS Community Organizer at (312) 742-0966 or Tim Brown, 25th District CAPS Community Organizer at (312) 742-0973

CLEARMap (formerly Citizen ICAM)
From July 1st - 29th, according to CLEARMap, Beat 1431 suffered 70 crimes, an increase of 1 from last month (69):

- 1 AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
- 1 AGGRAVATED BATTERY
- 7 BURGLARY
- 1 CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT
- 1 DISORDERLY CONDUCT
- 2 DRUG ABUSE VIOLATIONS
- 1 FORGERY AND COUNTERFEITING
- 1 FRAUD
- 19 LARCENY THEFT
- 1 LIQUOR LAWS
- 7 MISCELLANEOUS NON-INDEX OFFENSES
- 3 ROBBERY
- 6 SIMPLE ASSAULT
- 10 SIMPLE BATTERY
- 8 VANDALISM
- 1 WEAPONS

The Criminal Sexual Assault reported this month on Western and Fullerton was filed by a homeless individual who has had prior arrests for prostitution. After willingly performing a sexual favor she filed the claim but did not follow up. The police believe the report was filed possibly due to a dispute involving money for her action.

Click here to view table of all reported crimes (new window)

Gang Intervention Probation Program
Any resident who sees the following individuals violating curfew or in the presence with a known gang member, should call 911.
- Jesus Ocampo (click here for photo) is currently living on the 2100 block of N. Bingham with mandatory curfew hours from 9pm - 7am during the period from 12/15/2005 - 12/14/2007.

Court Advocacy Report
Forthcoming...


Beat 1431 Section Reports
SECTION 1 (Borders: California, Milwaukee, Armitage)
1) Bingham events:
- July 29th, bottles were seen thrown at cars
- Car windows were smashed
- J.J. Morgan and fellow Cobras have been loitering at 2106 Bingham
- July 30th, 10:45pm, a red Toyota was seen stopping at 2119 Bingham then reversing in front of 2113 and smashed a window of a van parked in front of this property. Police were called and responded quickly.
- A male was seen hanging a small black bag on the fence in front of the empty lot next to 2113. Another male was seen shortly thereafter picking up the bag and leaving the scene.
- Four people were seen in a small red car, one male left to go into 2113.
- A party started last Saturday night, July 28th, at 2108 Bingham (where Cobra member Lino Quinn resides) was reported to last until 6am in the morning on Sunday. Police happened to drive by causing the party-goers to run inside or hide behind cars until the police car left. Many of the cars at the party were illegally parked on Bingham without permits.
- 2029 Bingham is currently being used by drug addicts and prostitutes during the day. Two females and a black male were seen at 2:45pm using this abandoned property. The garage has been left open and apparently cannot be secured.
2) SGT Giambrone reported numerous arrests in this section:
- Aggravated assault arrest
- Simple assault arrest on the 2100 block of N. Bingham
- There were several warrant arrests on Milwaukee and California (2100 block)
- Weapons arrest on the 2600 Block of Francis Pl.
- 3 vehicles were confiscated
- Two targeted mission for prostitution that included Beats 1431, 1414 and 1413 from the 2400 block of Armitage to the 3600 block of Armitage resulted in 7 vehicles being confiscated with 11 arrests.
3) Resident brought up a recent GGNA email posting questioning whether the orientation of section 1 plays a role in harboring crime. SGT Giambrone mentioned that this section is unique and requires more bike and foot patrols in the area, keeping a chase car available as needed.
action: Bingham is consistently plagued with crime. This section continues to have major gang and drug activity. 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 (Borders: Rockwell, Lyndale, Western, Milwaukee)
1) Resident was woken up at around 12:30am by 4 Latino males in a 4 door white sedan across the street in front of 2205 N. Maplewood. Loud bass was blasting from the car, and one of the males was seen urinating outside the vehicle. The resident called his neighbor and both called 911. The police responded quickly, arresting the driver and impounding the vehicle. The resident thanked the 1431 police for their quick response and thorough arrest.
SGT Giambrone mentioned that a person can be arrested for drunk driving if they are intoxicated, behind the wheel of the car with the keys in the ignition. The car does not have to be running or moving in this situation. If the keys are in the ignition and the person is behind the wheel, that person is considered in control of the vehicle.
2) The manager in charge of the Congress Pizza delivery drivers pleaded his case to the police in response to allegations brought to the Alderman's office from the nearby senior citizen home that the delivery drivers have been blocking the alley behind the restaurant as well as the pedestrian walkways being used by the home's residents. According to this manager, Congress Pizza commonly will have up to 20 drivers on the weekends. He also said that he has been directing these drivers to not block the alleys or pedestrian walkways. He also added that there are numerous homeless drug addicts and dealers that approach the drivers of the restaurant. Congress Pizza has been trying to disperse these individuals and the drivers have been told not to buy any of the drugs being offered.
3) There was a posession of cocaine arrest on the 2100 block of Campbell
action: Congress Pizza and Congress Theater are both under scrutiny to make sure the alley behind the theater is clear and parking practices around the theater, Chase Elementary School and the senior citizens home are closely monitored. Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report any violations.

SECTION 3 (Borders: Rockwell, Fullerton, Western, Lyndale)
1) Resident reported that there was an extremely loud house party that the police had to respond to one evening between 10:30pm - 11pm. Police responded quickly and were able to quiet the gathering.

SECTION 4 (Borders: California, Fullerton, Rockwell, Milwaukee)
1) An important arrest was made with the help of off-duty police officers volunteering their time riding the CTA system as added security. A resident called in a clear description of a known MLD gang member, Joshua Moro, who was walking with 3 others on Fullerton toward California. He was seen with a .22 caliber pistol wrapped in his hand with his t-shirt. The off-duty police tracked them down along with a police tactical unit and arrested him at Washtenaw and Fullerton. He was charged as a gang member carrying a weapon with a defaced serial number. SGT Giambrone mentioned this was a great example of citizens working with police to make the arrest. Moro does not live in Beat 1431 but the neighboring Beat 1425 and tends to loiter around the neighborhood with fellow MLDs.
2) Late Saturday, the 28th or early Sunday the 29th, Goethe Elementary was defaced with graffiti on the West side on Talman, by the Orchestra Albany (OA) gang.
3) PO Komo reported that Latin Lover gang members were dispersed from Goethe during the evening the Thursday or Friday before the graffiti occurred.
4) A resident reported that a neighborhood friend has had his car broken into 2-3 times. The vandals are believed to be going after the car radio. The resident also questioned the police if the number of car break-ins has increased or decreased over the month. SGT Giambrone remarked that there were no motor vehicle thefts and the amount of thefts that include thefts from auto went down from 23 to 20. These thefts tend to go under reported when the amount of damage is within insurance deductibles.
SGT Giambrone also mentioned that during Congress Theater events, police patrol is increased around parked cars particularly on Milwaukee avenue to help minimize break-ins.
Toyota and Saturn vehicles are apparently easier to break into than others via their doors. SGT Giambrone remarked that thieves can take a can opener and cut around the key hole on Saturn doors since the body panel is made out of a flexible plastic composite.
action: Police need to focus on keeping Goethe safe from gang violence. Residents are urged to call 911 when witnessing any gang activity in the area.

SECTION 5 (Borders: California, Logan Boulevard, Rockwell, Fullerton)
1) Police reported that the shooter involved in the Haas Park shooting last May has been incarcerated.
2) A citizen called 911 to report 2 males breaking into a garage on the 2500 block of Rockwell on the West side of the street between 6:30 - 6:45 in the evening. The police arrived as these burglars were exiting the garage with stolen items. One of the burglars is homeless.
3) MLD graffiti went up on a Saturday during the middle of the month at Altgeld between Talman and Rockwell. The owners of the buildings affected painted it off within 24 hours.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity particularly at Haas Park.

SECTION 6 (Borders: Rockwell, Logan Boulevard, Western, Fullerton)
1) Transient Daryl Chambers and other homeless have been defecating behind the pediatrician's office on the Southwest corner on Western. (last 2400 address on Altgeld and Western) and have been aggressively panhandling. Chambers has also setup a makeshift shelter in the empty lot between Western and Artesian. Chambers also reportedly punched a man in the grocery store at Artesian and Western.
2) Jim Rhodes reported an email he received that warned the community that there have been thefts of aluminum downspouts attached to buildings. A black truck has been seen doing this in the area.
3) Spanish Lords graffiti went up on a garage in the alley behind Tile Outlet between Artesian and Campbell.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.


Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) Gang activity, drug sales, vandalism and violence on Bingham and Stave
2) Gang graffiti
3) Gang loitering and recruiting
4) Gang weapons violence

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