BEAT 1431 CAPS
Meeting Minutes
July 2nd, 2009

The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 6th, 2009 at 7:00 pm at the 14th District Police Station, 2150 N. California.

Officers Present: PO Smith, PO Trempe, SGT Belicki (New 14th District CAPS Sergeant), PO Moriarty

Number of Beat 1431 residents present: 25

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

General Announcements
SGT Belicki is our new 14th District Beat Sergeant. There is also a new 14th District Commander, Cmdr. John J. Escalante, his experience includes being a Lieutenant Gang/Tactical officer and a former CAPS officer.

Residents are encouraged to continue to call 911 to report criminal activity. The more calls that come in, the more likely the areas where these crimes occur will get more police attention. These decisions are made by police commanders who meet weekly as part of the city's Deployment Operation Command.

The male rapist responsible for the criminal sexual offenses including the 2100 block of North Maplewood on February 18th and the 2300 block of Moffat February 2nd has been arrested and charged with 6 rapes as a result of a citizen who called 911 after seeing and hearing a woman screaming while being attacked.


CLEARMap (formerly Citizen ICAM)
From June 1st - 30th, according to CLEARMap, Beat 1431 suffered 79 crimes, an increase of 3 from last month (76):
- 6 AGGRAVATED BATTERY *
- 1 ARSON *
- 6 BURGLARY *
- 1 CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULT *
- 1 HOMICIDE - 1ST OR 2ND DEGREE *
- 24 LARCENY THEFT *
- 1 LIQUOR LAWS
- 7 MISCELLANEOUS NON-INDEX OFFENSES
- 3 MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT *
- 3 ROBBERY *
- 4 SIMPLE ASSAULT
- 7 SIMPLE BATTERY
- 15 VANDALISM

* indicates index crimes (most serious offenses)

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

Beat 1431 Court Advocacy Report
1) Offenders Ricky Vasquez and Lino Quinn, arrested for gang graffiti on the Club 2047 property on Milwaukee were released because Club 2047 failed to appear in court. This is very unfortunate and disappointing particularly since a representative from 2047 who appeared at the CAPS meeting last month promised that a representative would be present to support charges against these known criminal gang members.
2) The next Derek Tate Jr. murder case court hearing is scheduled for July 7th.

Reported Shots Fired Beat Map

Beat 1431 Section Reports
SECTION 1 (Borders: California, Milwaukee, Armitage)
1) There was a gang related shooting between a Maniac Latin Disciple (MLD) and the Spanish Cobras and Latin Lovers, Thursday, June 25th at 1am leaving 3 gang members with minor injuries. The shooting started on the 2000 block of Stave and then continued onto the 2100 block of Bingham. There is a chance that part of the incident was captured by the police camera on the 2100 block of Bingham, and police are reviewing the recording. Meanwhile, police believe the shooter to be a well known MLD gang member from Rockwell and Cortland, however, there is currently no victim pressing charges to allow for prosecution.
2) Between 9:30pm - 11pm Friday evening, June 26th, residents reported that gang members between 2124 and 2100 Bingham bombarded passing cars with bricks and beer bottles. The gang members were believed to be "protecting their territory" in response to the shooting the day before (see above section report). There are a number of infamous gang members back and active on Bingham.
3) A resident questioned the police whether the police camera located at Stave and Francis captured any of the gang graffiti that was going up on the buildings at this location (store and condo building) - the police have not reviewed the recording.
4) A resident asked the police whether home security video cameras could provide admissible evidence for any captured crime around and outside the property, and the police mentioned they did not know if it is admissable, however, it is extremely valuable for police and investigators to view.
5) A resident reported continued nefarious drug and transient behavior at 2139 N. Point. Within the last 2 weekends a couple robberies including a stolen arc welder and grills have occurred and are believed to be connected to the criminals illegally squatting within the property. The police are well aware of this problem and have notified the city building department to follow up on the address. Jerry from the Alderman's office will follow up with the status on this building investigation.
6) Multiple layers of gang graffiti is going up in the alley on the 2000 block of Bingham
7) The vacant Dearborn Foods property along Milwaukee and the El tracks near California is becoming a popular loitering area for vagrants and homeless who are threatening residents. The property owner has been contacted and apparently was planning to meet with the 14th District Police to address the issue, however, nothing seems to have changed at the property thus far.
Police mentioned that there is a homeless black male who is loitering near the California Blue Line El station who has been extremely temperamental with pedestrians and police. He has also been seen in the vacant lot of Dearborn Foods.
8) At 1:30am Saturday, June 6th, a resident on St. George St. was mugged and beaten while walking home from the California Blue Line El on Milwaukee. The resident did not call police when he returned home after the mugging. He went to sleep and later woke up feeling ill and later died at the hospital due to complications with his injuries. The police had little further news about the investigation as they had very little information to go on since the crime was not reported after it occurred, however, the suspects are believed to be 2 black males in their 30s.
9) A resident reported a stabbing incident, Tuesday, June 30th on Attrill around 12:30pm believed to involve the vagrants who loiter around that area. The police were not aware of the incident.
10) Section arrests:
- A shoplifting arrest "less than $150" was made on the 2100 block of Milwaukee on June 9th.
- A battery arrest causing bodily harm arrest was made on the 2800 block of Armitage on June 15th.
- A "Criminal Tresspass to Land" arrest was made on the 2700 block of Armitage on June 16th.
- On June 18th, at 2724 W. Armitage there was a purse snatching that occurred on the 18th of June and 2 citizens were able to catch and hold the criminal while police arrived to arrest him.
- A battery arrest causing bodily harm was made on the 2100 block of Milwaukee on June 19th.
- A criminal damage to property arrest (less than $300) was made on the 2100 block of Milwaukee on June 20th.
- A battery arrest "Physical Contact" was made on the 2100 block of Milwaukee on June 22nd.
- A criminal damage to property arrest (less than $300) was made on the 2000 block of California on June 24th.
- A "Drinking Alcohol in the Public Way" arrest was made on the 2600 block of Fullerton on June 25th.
- A domestic battery arrest "Physical Contact" was made on the 2000 block of Stave on June 28th.
- A battery arrest "Physical Contact" was made on the 2600 block of Attrill on June 29th.
- An armed robbery arrest was made on the 2000 block of Milwaukee on June 30th.
action: Residents are urged to continue calling 911 to report criminal activity.

SECTION 2 (Borders: Rockwell, Lyndale, Western, Milwaukee)
1) Jerry Gabrielatos from Alderman Flores' Office announced that on Thursday, July 23rd there will be a community meeting with the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, to address issues related to Congress Pizza. The meeting will take place 10am at City Hall, 121 N. Lasalle, Room 805. Alderman Flores and a 14th District representative are scheduled to attend.
Community residents are welcomed and encouraged to attend this meeting.
Police reported that there has been no improvement at Congress Pizza. This establishment has been employing known gang members, the scene for a recent gang shooting and general drug and gang activity. Congress Pizza has continually refused petitions from the police, Alderman Flores' office and our local CAPS community to attend CAPS meetings and address the crime they are supporting.
2) After 4:30pm it is illegal to park in the parkway across the Delta Screw property (near Congress Pizza). Prior to 4:30pm parking is allowed only if the vehicle displays an industrial parking permit (33).
Police are encouraged to write tickets on offending cars on the parkway. Residents seeing illegally parked cars are encouraged to call 311.
3) A resident reported that there are 2-3 known Spanish Lords who remain loitering in the alley behind Congress Pizza often seen with teenage girls.
4) Notorious thief Wheelchair Tony has been seen around Congress Pizza as well.
5) A 30 year old male resident on the 2400 block of McLean called the police to report that his drugs were stolen at 2am Tuesday, June 30th. After being bound, gagged, beaten and shot with a Taser gun, 3 robbers stole cash and drugs ($2000 worth of Cannabis).
6) A resident asked the police if Taser guns were legal. The police said they are considered firearms and conform to hand gun laws. If an individual is caught with an unlicensed Taser gun, they are charged with a Unlawful Use of Weapon violation.
7) Residents reported that during a large Euro dance event at the Congress Theater over the past week a number of patrons were urinating between houses near the Theater. Patrons apparently are commonly seen urinating and drinking in the alley behind Congress Theater and would like Theater security to do a better job patrolling the alley and perimeter of the property.
8) The troubled Hispanic male living unsupervised by an adult on the 2400 block of Palmer again continues to be a constant disruption to neighbors. He has begun using an airhorn between 3:45am - 5am to wake residents. The parties have lessened a bit but he has found other means of disrupting the peace. The police have been paying special attention to the area and apparently an orange city sticker was placed on the door of the property which is believed to indicate that the city is shutting the water off.
This troubled male apparently has also been seen hanging around with registered sex offender Anthony Jones and two other infamous offenders.
Residents are getting very frustrated having to deal with the disruptive antics of this repeat offender.
9) Garages on the 2400 block of Palmer have also been tagged with graffiti but property owners are not calling 311 to get it removed.
10) Residents are encouraged by police to call 911 to report fireworks during the 4th of July.
11) Section arrests:
- A "Simple Assault" arrest was made on the 2400 block of McLean on June 8th.
- A "Drinking Alcohol in the Public Way" arrest was made on the 2400 block of McLean on June 8th.
action: Congress Pizza gang activity and Congress Theater event parking remain top issues in this section.

SECTION 3 (Borders: Rockwell, Fullerton, Western, Lyndale)
There were no reports for this section.

SECTION 4 (Borders: California, Fullerton, Rockwell, Milwaukee)
1) A resident reported that the transients who have been loitering in the vacant Dearborn Foods building on Milwuakee near California have been verbally harassing residents walking passed the property toward the California Blue Line El. John Burns is believed to be the developer who owns this property and needs to address this problem. Police have been able to ticket homeless who are drinking. It is not illegal to simply be homeless and if the property owner doesn't request trespass charges, they can't be arrested.
2) Section arrests:
- A "Drinking Alcohol in the Public Way" arrest was made on the 2300 block of California on June 4th.
- A "Criminal Trespass to Land" arrest was made on the 2100 block of Talman on June 21st.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti.

SECTION 5 (Borders: California, Logan Boulevard, Rockwell, Fullerton)
1) Gang and gang activity was reported in the general area
2) A resident reported that Haas Park is frequently littered with empty bottles and containers - near the Fullerton side by the baseball diamond and play lot.
3) Section arrests:
- A domestic battery "Bodily Harm" arrest was made on the 2500 block of Fairfield on June 13th.
- A burglary arrest was made on the 2400 block of Rockwell on June 21st.
- A "Possession" arrest was made on the 2400 block of Fullerton on June 25th.
action: Police officers are encouraging residents to call 911 if they hear or see any suspicious activity.

SECTION 6 (Borders: Rockwell, Logan Boulevard, Western, Fullerton)
1) Gang graffiti frequently goes up in the alley on the 2400 block of Rockwell and the same block on Maplewood
2) SGT Belicki reported that WGN news this morning highlighted on the continued success of the skateboard park.
action: Residents are strongly urged to call 911 to report gang activity and 311 for graffiti

Recurring Problem Areas for BEAT 1431
1) Gang graffiti
2) Gang drug activity
3) Gang weapons violence

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