Lovin' In Progress @ Taco Bell On Milwaukee

Good afternoon, everyone, it's 4:44pm. Such a warm day we have outside. It's in the mid 80s right now. The weather was pretty sunny until about two hours ago, then it started to rain. And it came in a downpour. All part of summer coming, I guess. Anyway, as we all know, tomorrow is June 1st, and I think you all know what that means for my blog, especially if you've been a reader for over a year. My coverage of crime is all day, everyday (as often as I can), and I monitor 14 at least twice a month. This is to keep you informed on the usual uptick in crime in our neighborhood during the summer months. Hopefully all of you will appreicate the time I put into this blog in the summer. On that note, here's crime for this afternoon and evening.

4:47pm - Sex offense. 3167 N Milwaukee. Two lovers doing their thing in their car in the parking lot.

5:22pm - Beat car 2523 is doing foot patrol on the 3000 block of N Pulaski. Event number is 15434.

6:13pm - Suspicious person. 44XX W Altgeld. Male just drove down the alley on a motorcycle with a mask on.

6:54pm - I have to go eat. I'll be back soon.

7:13pm - I'm back.

7:14pm - This is for information: a group of men in a car are going through the 14th and 25th Districts and they are loaded with waterballoons. Sounds harmless, right? Nope. These guys are hitting people in the face and striking people who don't want to be hit with them. So this is a word of caution for all readers heading outside.

9:00pm - I have to go. I'll be back tomorrow morning. Good night to all.

Memorial Day, 2011

Good morning, everyone, and happy Memorial Day to all. It's 9:13am. As you know, today is a holiday when we honor our troops fighting the wars for us and the ones who have fallen to serve and protect us. I do celebrate it to an extent, I admit, but the main reason why I'm happy is because of the extra day I've gotten off from school. So anyway, this week, it looks like I don't have anything to do besides go to a party on Friday evening, so this week will be nice and relaxing for me. Lastly, I'll be monitoring 25 today until my dinner, and so on that note, here's crime for this morning and this afternoon.

9:47am - Parker. 2803 N Ridgeway. Bunch of permit parking. I didn't call this in.

12:28pm - 1) Parker. On 2525's Beat. 2) Beat 2562Adam is getting a narcotics call on the PDT.

12:44pm - Battery in progress. Cortland and Harding. People fighting just west of Harding on Cortland.

12:58pm - 1) Burglar alarm. 3654 W Diversey. 2) Disturbance. 19XX N Harding. People arguing in front. Probably related to the fight called in at 12:44.

12:59pm - Reckless driver. Karlov and Belmont. Car with a plate of 7249885 hit some parked cars and fled towards the METRA tracks on Belmont.

1:16pm - Beat 2593 is running a plate at Palmer and Kedvale.

2:14pm - Shots Fired. Armitage and Pulaski. Four heard.

2:25pm - Information for the CPD. Central Park and Fullerton. Traffic lights are stuck on red.

2:48pm - The 2:14pm job is bona fide, and someone's been shot. A male in his early 20s was shot at 4038 W. Armitage, where the crime scene is. The victim has been taken to Illinois Masonic I believe. The reason why I didn't cover this at first was because the shooting was said to have occurred on the 1900 block of N. Karlov, which isn't in my coverage area. 2524 is doing the paper and 2542 is on the crime scene.

3:23pm - Beat 2593 gets some parkers on the PDT.

3:36pm - A unit is running a name in the west alley in the 2000 block of Keystone.

3:41pm - The name is clear from the stop on Keystone.

3:48pm - Beat 2505 is doing something at Koz Park.

4:02pm - 1) The RD number from the Armitage shooting is HT321506. 2) Disturbance. 3635 W Armitage. At Armitage Foods. Intoxicated man fell in the parking lot.

4:35pm - Animal fighting. 37XX W Dickens. Two pit bulls fighting.

4:40pm - More parkers for 2593.

5:08pm - Assault in progress. Belmont and Tripp. Bunch of calls coming in for a group of people arguing over a traffic accident. There's also been an accident at 4152 on Nelson.

5:30pm - EMS run. Milwaukee and Ridgeway. Man down on the ground behind Danny's Liquor.

5:39pm - Dope call on 2535's Beat.

5:40pm - 1) Ambulance 32 took the 5:30pm guy to OLR. 2) Disturbance. 2617 N Hamlin. Neighbors arguing.

6:13pm - Some call at Pulaski and Armitage regarding a bike.

6:18pm - Again, more parkers for 2593.

6:28pm - Narcotics. On 2525's Beat.

6:29pm - Beat car 2522 has a street stop at 4030 W Wrightwood.

6:39pm - I have to go eat, and with that, good night to all of you. Be safe and stay cool.

Gang Fight @ Barry And Monticello

Good morning, everyone, it's 1:18am. It's a cloudy but pretty warm night out. I believe it's in the upper 50s or lower 60s right now. Anyway, yep, I'm monitoring 25 right now, and will be doing so until 4:47am. I'm monitoring this time period so all of you can get a feel of what it's like on a spring night in 25. After I'm done monitoring at 4:47, I won't come back until after my dinner this evening. But this will be the last weekend I do that weekend schedule, until the first weekend of September, since June is only a couple of days away. I try to monitor as much as I can in June, July and August since those are the summer months and is when crime is at it's highest in our area. So on that note, here's crime for the overnight hours and for this evening.

1:35am - Battery in progress. Barry and Monticello. Gangbangers fighting in the alley between Monticello and Lawndale on Barry.

1:37am - 1) Disturbance. Koz Park. 2) Assault in progress. Cortland and Central Park. Three gang members chasing someone south on Central Park towards the tracks @ 1800 N.

1:44am - 1) Battery in progress. Wellington and Pulaski. Large fight breaking out from a party. 2) Battery. Fullerton and Lawndale. Male hit in the head with a bottle. EMS en route.

1:46am - Shots Fired. 4007 W Wellington. Two shots heard from the large fight.

1:47am - Beat car 2523Robert is giving a slow down on Wellington. They say these same calls were made last weekend by a bogus caller. Dispatch is looking into it.

1:49am - The 1:35am offenders are hiding behind a building in the 3000 block of Monticello.

2:04am - Shots Fired. 21XX N Pulaski. Five shots heard, gangbangers last seen taking off in a vehicle heading towards Palmer on Pulaski. They were hanging out on the corner.

2:06am - A slow down is being given on the 2:04am job.

2:10 through 2:25pm - There were a couple of calls again on the Wellington fight. They keep coming back to fight.

2:27am - Bunch of disturbances on the 20 sector.

2:53am - Disturbance. 2850 N Tripp. Group being too loud outside.

2:58am - Battery in progress. 4003 W Wellington. Males fighting in the courtyard.

3:35am - Person Shot. George and Avers. Three shots heard and a man is shot. Calls are coming in.

3:36am - Multiple calls coming in at George and Avers. Several shots heard, man shot, etc.

3:37am - It's bona fide. Someone is shot. 2523R is on scene along with 2533R and 2520R. 2520R is putting up crime scene tape.

3:38am - 2523R has to notify the desk about the shooting. A detective will probably be sent out. EMS is on the way. I believe the victim was shot in the leg.

3:39am - Involved in the shooting was a dark-colored either Sentra or Maxima. Victim is 31 years old and was shot in stomach and the leg. Thanks to ProdigalOne for grabbing this information from the archive for me.

3:49am - Police now think the vehicle might have been a light brown Nissan Ultima. Thanks to ProdigalOne for grabbing this information from the archive for me.

3:51am - 2523R is on the way to Masonic along with the ambulance. Victim is a Gangster Disciple gang member.

4:23am - Loud music disturbance. Diversey and Lawndale.

4:32am - 2533R is off the crime scene now. The only car that should be on the shooting is 2523R.

4:47am - I'm going to go. I'll be back later in the afternoon. See you all then.

6:59pm - I'm back. Good evening.

7:21pm - Gang disturbance. 31XX N Monticello. There's a group of them in the west alley acting up. They're all over the alley, from the address given to Milwaukee.

7:30pm - Battery in progress. Milwaukee and Monticello. People fighting in the street. They're also drinking.

7:37pm - Battery in progress. Lawndale and Milwaukee. People fighting.

7:50pm - Person w/ a gun. Karlov and Palmer. Male Hispanic, 20-25 yrs old, black hoodie and pants just showed a gun to an 18 yr old male with a red t-shirt and a black long-sleeved shirt. These guys are also flashing gang signs at passing cars.

7:52pm - Not sure if these are related, but there's a domestic at 2139 on Karlov. The 13 yr old son just jumped out the window and fled down Karlov. He was wearing a red shirt.

9:50pm - Gang disturbance. 44XX W Deming.

Community Meeting Held On Wednesday Re: Homicides On Bt. 1411

Good morning, everyone. In response to the two homicides that have happened in the last week on Beat 1411 (the one on California and the one at Schubert/Albany), 1st Ward Alderman Joe "Proco" Moreno called a community meeting this past Wednesday, the 25th. This meeting occurred started at 6:00pm and it was held at the 14th District station. I had my Beat meeting the same night, so I could not make it to this meeting. But I do have a very, very good account of the meeting from a reader who lives in the area of where these two murders occurred, that wishes to remain anonymous. On that note, I will share the account I have been given, and then I will add my personal opinion to all of it. Lastly, but certainly not least, once this post is published, feel free to add your voice to the post. Civilized and on point, of course. So here is the account I've been given.

"...The meeting went pretty well...There were about 60 people there, who voiced various concerns and complaints, mostly regarding the police and city response to the recent shootings. (14th District Commander) Flores did her usual droning on about how they're "aware of the problem" and "are taking action" and managing to make two gang shootings within a week sound boring. I don't know how she does that, but it's a talent I'm glad I don't have. Deputy Chief Escalante was there from Area 5 (apparently he used to be Commander at the 14th and let me tell you, I wish he were still there because I think we'd be having a much different experience with the police if he were still there instead of Flores), and he was able to address the immediate actions the police are taking - putting more police on the streets, adding additional cars, diverting a few cars from Wicker Park during the evenings to 1411 and 1412, bringing in the gang unit, etc. which was very encouraging. He did tell us that part of the issue is resources, which we knew, but he also told us that 14 is NOT losing any personnel with this city plan to send 500 officers to the west and south...

A lot of talk about the 911 problems, which is where Flores got defensive again. Apparently the 911 office is part of the Office of Emergency Management, NOT part of the police department, and there's a different set of criteria for prioritizing calls. While you may call in to 911 with "Someone ran past with a gun, he had a blue jacket on and red shoes, he was going east on Diversey," the 911 operator may not give all that information to the police dispatcher, who then may not give all the information to the police officers. So there was some discussion of having someone - not a flunky - from the 911 department come to the next meeting. It's like there's a massive disconnect between the public, the 911 service, and the police and for some reason, no one can straighten it out. Incomplete information is being given out, wrong addresses, etc. and only some of it is people being confused when they call 911.

Moreno said some really good things about how the city was going after gang members using things like building violations and citations for unlicensed businesses, etc. Gamboa, in particular, is being hit with thousands of dollars in fines for building violations. He's using every resource he can find to convince the people permitting gang members in their houses that it's not in their best interests to continue doing that.
And speaking of Gamboa, guess who showed up at the meeting? Sal Gamboa himself, father of Jesus Gamboa, the reason people in 1411 stopped going to the CAPS meetings. Who wants to bitch about gang members when the father of the gang members/drug dealers is sitting there staring at you? Anyway, I'd had to go shortly before this point, so I'm just telling you what the people there said: Gamboa started talking - as he has at many CAPS meetings, including the last one - about how he needs the community to help him, how he can't control his children (he has one remaining son, in his mid/upper twenties, also an active MLD), how he can't be blamed and blah blah blah, and THEN he starts complaining to Moreno that he'd invited Moreno to the wake/funeral and Moreno hadn't come, and going on about how Moreno hadn't done enough to help him.
Moreno, bless his rock-star heart, apparently lost his fabled cool and told Gamboa that he wasn't likely to go to the wake, seeing as there would be 100 gang members there mourning the loss of one of their own, and that Moreno was hardly going to go into a place where he was likely to get killed himself and leave his daughter without a father. And then he told Gamboa to leave. Escalante escorted Gamboa out. Up until Gamboa walked in, the meeting had been ALL ABOUT Gamboa, and the problems at that house, and the frustration the neighbors were feeling, but when the man walked in, everybody shut up. And with good reason. They/we live around the corner, down the street, on the same block from this guy and everyone, EVERYONE, knows that his older kid is an active gang member and that him and his friends deal drugs and own guns. The problem is that when the thugs are hanging out at Gamboa's house, the cops can't do anything - Gamboa owns two houses next door to one another (2914 and 2916 N. Washtenaw) and gives them permission to be there. So the cops can't arrest them for loitering or trespassing, because they're not doing either - they're just being scary and intimidating and probably dealing drugs, but with the full permission of the property owner. The house is across the street and about a quarter of a block from the neighborhood park (playlot), which is where a lot of the little kids in the area go during the summer. Part of the problem with the Gamboas is that his kids were dealing and smoking weed right out in front of the little playlot. Someone in that house HAS to have a scanner, though, because the thugs would scatter like cockroaches as soon as the cops were about to show up.

The rest of the meeting was about what we, as citizens, can do to combat the gangs. "Positive loitering" was suggested, where we all go sit on our porches or whatever, but I don't think anyone really thinks that's a strategy that's going to have much effect on these knuckleheads. There was a lot of discussion about streetlights, since around here, the gang members are breaking into the wiring boxes and cutting the wires so the whole block or half a block goes dark and they can commit crimes in peace. Every time the city fixes the wiring, the gang members break into the boxes again. The kid who was killed early Tuesday was killed just under the only dead streetlight in that alley - the guy who owned the house was at the meeting and brought that up.

It looks like the police and city officials aren't abandoning us, and are putting as many resources as they can in our area to combat the rise in gang violence. There was some gossip about the first murder actually NOT being gang-related, that the victim was killed over some comments he'd made to the accused shooter (who's a 17-year-old neighbor from the 3100 block of Elston) and his girlfriend while walking down the street, but that's unsubstantiated. I'll tell you, though, that after that meeting, District 14 and Flores are on notice that there are a LOT of people watching what they're doing and taking careful note of whether or not the police are following through on their promises. I have a lot more faith in Escalante - I've been told by various sources that he's an excellent police officer, which is why he was promoted, and he's certainly a far more effective communicator than Velgara, Flores or Dowd.
(Interestingly, while Velgara was at the meeting, he was putting out cups of water and getting more chairs for people - he didn't take any kind of active role in the meeting at all, which leads me to believe he's on the shit list, as he should be. He gave Gamboa a block of time at the last CAPS meeting to sit there and tell all of us that everything was just FINE over at his house, that his neighbors were the problem, that the neighbors were wasting their time calling 911 when there was nothing illegal going on at his house and his kids were kind of a problem. This, after Velgara KNEW that Moreno had told Gamboa to stop coming to the meetings because his presence was making it difficult for his neighbors to talk about the problems they were having. Velgara retires on July 3rd, so there's not much they can do to him, but I honestly think that if Velgara had done his job, Jesus Gamboa wouldn't be dead.)

Moreno pretty much ran the meeting...he really showed that he was a stand-up guy last night. He wasn't going to let Gamboa come in and derail the meeting and intimidate people the way he usually does, and I'm told Moreno really told the guy off in a very forceful way. Rey Colon came in towards the end, since the second murder happened in the 35th ward, but he didn't participate all that much.

The meeting took close to two and a half hours, and there were enough people there that the cops had to bring in extra chairs and it was still standing room only. Residents are really demanding some accountability from the cops, which I think is a really great thing. It's one thing to sit in a CAPS meeting and be told by someone in a uniform that you, as a citizen, aren't entitled to question what the cops are doing, or make a complaint about how the police are going (about) something. But a room full of 60 citizens, people feel more free to talk, I think,".

Based on this account, I think that this meeting was an excellent one. Even though I don't live in the area of these two murders, it is still very promising to see that Alderman Moreno care this much. It's very inspiring to me that he called such a meeting to address this. I'm really glad the residents of Beat 1411 showed up in large numbers, too. Community participation is needed in all of Chicago, and these people seem to understand that very well. I think that all of it is very inspiring, and more importantly, this meeting has sent out a message to Gamboa and others that 1411 cannot and will not back down from this matter. They are highly upset about the gang activity taking place in their area, and have every right to be. Enough is enough. There should not have been two murders within a week, within a few blocks from each other. However, it does sound to me that the 14th District CPD needs to take more accountability, particularly Commander Flores. And she needs to stop getting so defensive when citizens want to ask questions. We have a right to know what the police are doing in our communities in regards to crime and disorder without being snapped at by a Police Officer, and Flores needs to comprehend that.

Deputy Chief Escalante is definitely on the ball with all of this. I think it's great that Beats 1411 and 1412 will have additional officers working those two Beats in the evening. In my personal opinion, I don't think all of those units should've been assigned to the Wicker Park area in the first place. It's not like they're really experiencing the gang shootings and conflicts. Yes, I'm aware there's a robbery problem in Wicker Park, but other neighborhoods in Chicago also do without what seems like an army of officers coming to patrol each night. These officers are definitely more useful working Beats 1411 and 1412.

As far as the OEMC problem goes, that's a problem all of us are experiencing, I think. This account provides confirmation to that. The people at OEMC are humans just like us, yes, but they don't realize that there job description says they are the difference between life and death for all Chicago residents, visitors, Police Officers, and etc., and for that I have to say they are big screw ups that need to seek work in another profession. The work they do at OEMC seems not to be cut out for them. Having said, I think it's time a bunch of us from all Avondale/Logan Square Beats (1411, 1412, 1413, 1414, 1421, 1422, 1431, 1432, 1433, 1434, 1732, 1733, 2523, 2524, 2525 and 2535) need to get together and arrange one big meeting with someone high up in OEMC to address these issues we have with the call-takers and dispatchers. Yes, I realize there are good and bad people at EVERY job, but the bad outweighs the good at OEMC, and most of the people working there are probably capable doing a far greater job than they do. They just don't want to. If that's the case, fire them all and replace them. Personally, I'm tired of my safety being in jeopardy with a bunch of lazy pricks from OEMC (if any of you want, I can most certainly get into that with you over e-mail). And another thing. It is not fair that the Chicago Police Department gets blamed for something when OEMC screws up. Remember, people, the person behind that headset is most likely not an officer, nor likely ever will be. They are citizens just like you and me.

It must've took Sal Gamboa courage and guts to show up to that meeting and do what he did. I honestly cannot believe he would walk in and cause problems in the presence of nearly six dozen residents and probably quite a few CPD and public officials the way he did. I feel sorry that everyone had to get quiet at that meeting when he walked in, but hey, it's worth to be safer than sorry. I do give a big applause Moreno and Escalante from removing him from the meeting. Those residents did not need that. It's bad enough they're dealing with two homicides plus a whole slew of new gang activity. So a great job to Moreno and Escalante for not letting him completely derailing that meeting.

I'm personally a bit shocked with the way Sgt. Velgara has acted towards these people on Beat 1411. He seems like a good enough Sergeant. But now hearing these allegations against him makes me think twice, and it confirms to me that I've been right all along in my opinion that most officers working out of the 14th District are corrupt and do not want to do their job. Not all of them, though. There are a few good ones here and there. But in general, the 14th District is corrupt. Back to the topic at hand, Velgara should have NEVER gaven Gamboa time at the last 1411 CAPS Beat meeting to talk about how the community is the problem. I pose this question to anyone who knows Gamboa: how the hell is the community the problem? Are we the ones involved in drug deals and gangbanging? Hell no. You are.

So wrapping up, I think from this account, this meeting was a really, really good one, and that is was needed. It's so good to hear that nearly six dozen people packed a room for this. I'd like to thank all the involved residents on Beat 1411 for caring about your community, and keep fighting the good fight against people like the Gamboas. As the old saying goes, "there's a light at the end of the tunnel", and your light is coming.

Burglar Report On Avers

Good morning, everyone, it's 8am. I'm monitoring 17 most of today for you good residents North of Belmont in our community. It'll probably be quiet as usual, especially with it going to rain and storm today, but it's something I feel I have to do. Anyway, like this week, next week won't be busy at all for me. The only thing I'm doing this upcoming week is going to send a friend of mine off to her prom on Friday night. I have no community obligations to do. But in middle and later June, there are a few community meetings I need to attend. So enough of my babbling on and here's crime for today.

8:44am - Burglar report. 3217 N Avers.

10:55am - Open property. 3843 W Addison. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call while I was out.

12:27pm - Disturbance. 2901 W Addison. Fight over a parking spot. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call while I was out.

2:22pm - Beat 1762Eddie is running a name at 3225 N Monticello.

2:39pm - Parker. 3251 N Troy.

3:53pm - The 16th District is handling an aggravated battery incident at OLR Hospital from the 3900 block of W Schubert.

4:46pm - Beat car 1732 has a street stop at Addison and Kimball.

5:52pm - Burglar alarm. 3844 W Belmont. At the bank.

6:08pm - Battery. Belmont and Central Park. Male hit a female several times in the face on a CTA bus. 2510 is on scene and says the bus is on 17's side.

6:55pm - I have to go eat. I'll be back soon.

7:14pm - I'm back.

7:20pm - EMS run. School and Hamlin. Person down, not responding.

7:23pm - The 7:19pm guy is ok. He got up and walked away.

7:46pm - Now the 7:20pm guy is at 3242 on Hamlin.

8:49pm - Person calling for help. 3507 N Springfield. A child is screaming for help.

8:54pm - A slow down is being given on the 8:49pm job. There's a grandmother out there with a child, but CPD doesn't think that child needs help.

9:57pm - Beat car 1733Robert is doing a Community Concern at Reilly School, 3650 W. School, per 1701.

11:36pm - Disturbance. 34XX N Ridgeway.

12:00am - I'm gone until 1:18. I'll be monitoring 25 at that point. I'm gone with 17 until next month. See you all a little later.

Calls On Beat 2524

Good evening, everyone, it's 9:01pm. It's a cold late May night. Temps are in the lower 50s. Not average for this time of year. And it's raining. Anyway, tomorrow, I'll be monitoring 17 most of the day for you residents North of Belmont in our community. It'll be probably be boring and quiet for the most part, but hey, those readers deserve to know what's happening in their area, too. Also, since I have no school Monday due to Memorial Day, I'll be on my weekend schedule Sunday and Monday for 25. That means I'll monitor from after my dinner to a little after midnight Sunday evening, then from when I wake up to my dinner on Monday. That's all I've got to say for now, so here's crime for tonight.

9:24pm - Couple of calls on Beat 2524.

9:31pm - Battery in progress. Central Park and North Ave. Males fighting in the gas station.

10:49pm - Person down. 3196 N Milwaukee.

10:53pm - Missing person report. 1933 N Harding.

10:54pm - Arson in progress. 3923 W Barry. Male White, red hat and hoodie just set something on fire by the light pole.

11:50pm - Loud music disturbance. 21XX N Avers.

11:55pm - Just an FYI to everyone. Got this e-mail last night: "The Polish auto repair shop at the corner of Hamlin and Milwaukee caught fire a little after 10pm Thursday night. We heard explosions. As of 10:50, CFD had it under control, with probably 10 trucks responding. Lots of acrid smoke, fire burned through the roof,".

11:59pm - Battery in progress. 2400 and 2500 blocks of N Pulaski. Large fight between 20 or more men on the street. They're throwing bottles.

12:00am - I'm going to go. I'll be back in the morning. Goodnight, everyone, and be safe.

Homicide @ Schubert And Albany On Tuesday

Sorry for the delayed post in regards to this incident, but there was a homicide on Tuesday at about 4am at the corner of Schubert and Albany, according to the Chicago Tribune. Sources say the shooting was gang-related, and was related to the homicide that occurred on the 3000 block of N California last week. 23 yr old Emigdio Ortega, of the 2600 block of N. Fairfield Avenue, was found dead by Chicago Police in an alley on the 2700 block of N Albany. Ortega, and another man (who is a known gang member in the area), were returning from the wake of Jesus Gamboa, the man who was killed in the California shooting, when another man came out from a gangway and opened fired on them. So then, Ortega and his friend ran separate ways so they wouldn't get shot, which obviously didn't work out. CPD responded to calls of "Shots Fired" in the area and found Ortega's unhurt friend by the Logan Square Blue Line Station. Ortega was found dead at about 5:30am and was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been shot in his shoulder and his right elbow.

The offender has a description, and it is as follows: male Hispanic, 20s, light complected, 5'8 or 5'9, 150 to 160 lbs, and last seen wearing a red cap and red jacket.

Residents of Beat 1411, I'm sorry that you've seen these two homicides within a week. It's truly horrible. I'm glad Alderman Moreno had called a community meeting for it on Wednesday, though. I'll be making a post on that later this afternoon.

Gun In Green (Or Blue)-Colored Vehicle @ Avers And Palmer

Good afternoon, everyone, it's 3:36pm. It's been a cold, tiring and somewhat scary day. Tiring because of school and a little scary because a big fight broke out at my school and someone had to go to the hospital. Glad I don't live in that area. So anyway, I'm glad the weekend's coming. I'll have time to catch up on stuff, especially with Monday being an extra day off due to it being Memorial Day. On one final note, I'm monitoring 17 on Saturday. That is all for now. Here's crime for this afternoon and evening.

3:57pm - Person w/ a gun. Avers and Palmer. Light green or blue vehicle driving around the area with a partial plate of GX7 has a gun.

4:03pm - Beat 2592 is doing foot patrol on Fullerton from Kilbourn to Pulaski. Event number is 10884.

4:05pm - A slow down is being given on the 3:57pm job.

4:47pm - A few officers come over the radio saying "Timmmmmy!!!!" ... LOL. Don't know why, but this is a shout out right back to ya, CPD!

5:00pm - Disturbance w/ a mental. 4021 W Belmont. On the 3rd floor, male resident is trying to fight with people. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me.

5:06 to 5:12pm - One of my neighbors did call me to tell me that 2843 N Ridgeway was being visited by 2573 in regards to the garage being torn up inside by someone. I'm assuming the Club Gibbons crew, since that building is abandoned.

5:57pm - Recover stolen property. 2828 N Hamlin.

6:30pm - I have to go eat. I'll be back soon.

7:00pm - I'm back.

7:34pm - A 2563 unit is going in with one from Diversey and Lawndale from a street stop. An RD number for an "1811" (possession of cannabis) has been pulled, and it's HT316126 with the event number is 14368.

7:36pm - Battery in progress. 37XX W Wrightwood. Two people fighting with someone trying to separate them.

8:13pm - Parker. On 2524's Beat.

9:01pm - I'm out for the night. I'll see all of you tomorrow afternoon. Good night and be safe.

Beat 2523 CAPS Meeting This Evening (5-25-11)

Good evening, everyone. The meeting this month had a good turn-out. So, moving on to the old issues from April and most of this month:

* ASPIRA High School (Pulaski and Barry) - There were problems at dismissals with kids congregating, causing trouble, etc.
* Ken-Well Park (2945 N. Kenosha) - People playing basketball there after 9:30pm and being a disturbance. Sgt. Weiglein says CPD has made special attention.
* 3700 W. Diversey - Gang activity. Sgt. Weiglein reports 11 arrests were made in the area and that special attention has been made.

And now to the new problems:
* Danny's Liquor (3018 N. Milwaukee) - This new liquor store is selling liquor to the drunks on Milwaukee, supposedly.
* Your's truly brought up three new problems on Ridgeway.

Other observations:
> This meeting was not short, but it wasn't too long either. Lots of attendees were in good spirits and the meeting went orderly. Lots of discussions took place afterwards between residents of the community.
> A woman assisting the day laborers at Belmont and Milwaukee has informed us that she is going to have them move to Belmont and Kedzie, but only if the community helps her get some things done in regards to this.
> The following events will be happening in 25 for the next month or so:
1) A block club training session will be held in the 25th District on June 18th at 10:00am.
2) A Garden Party at the Community Garden is set for Sunday, June 19th. It starts at 1:00pm.
3) A "Keepin' It Real" presentation will occur in 25 on July 21st at 6:30pm. This presentation will be about burglars telling you how they broke into homes and what you can do to keep your home safe.
> The most incidents took place in the 3900 block of W Barry. The most crimes were battery (35 reported incidents), criminal damage (26 reported incidents), and motor vehicle theft (25 reported incidents). The most incidents took place on Tuesdays and Mondays.

As I do in every Beat meeting post, I extend my thanks to all for being involved in this meeting. Once again, I ask for those residents who read the blog but don't come to the meetings (because they don't want to), please, come! It only takes ONE hour of your time, and we need all of the help we can get.

Next meeting: July 27, 2010 at Copernicus Center (3160 N. Milwaukee) at 6:30PM.

Thank you,
Timmy

Traffic Accident @ Central Park And North Ave.

Good morning, everyone, it's 5am. It's a cloudy morning we have here, and we're supposed to get bad storms later this afternoon. Hopefully everything will be ok. And hopefully, the weather holds up for me to attend my CAPS Beat meeting, 2523, this evening. I'd like to attend to hear about the new problems and to notify CPD of new problems I have in the area. Other than this CAPS Beat meeting, I don't really have any other community meetings or events to attend for the next two or three weeks. And at school, I'm only staying after school maybe two more times before we're out. So it seems I have a pretty long break from things coming up, which I don't have a problem with. I could use the break. So with that, here's crime for this morning before I leave for school.

6:05am - Traffic accident. Central Park and North Ave. No injures.

6:39am - I have to go. Have a great day, everyone. See you all tomorrow.

Female Fight @ Belmont And Milwaukee

Good afternoon, everyone, it's 6pm. It's a beautiful but breezy day, being in the upper 50s and/or lower 60s right now with sunshine. Anyway, as I've been saying, this has been a pretty quite week for me. Outside of me needing to me with a Sergeant in 25 this afternoon and going to my CAPS Beat meeting tomorrow evening, there's really nothing to do. Lastly, this was brought to my attention this afternoon with meeting with the Serg. I've been told that a number of residents from Beats 2524 and 2525 are making complaints that I put up their addresses on their blog for calls like "Battery in progress" and stuff like that now. That's fine if you object to it, but do you really have to go tell a Sergeant? Why can't you just tell me? That honestly pisses me off a bit to hear that some of you people can't be man or woman enough to tell me your complaints. I'm the one running this blog, after all. I would comply with your complaints. But now I don't think I should, because of you going behind my back and complaining to someone other than me. For now on, if you have a complaint about MY blog, let ME know, not anyone else. End of rant. Here's crime for a bit of this evening.

6:21pm - Battery in progress. Belmont and Milwaukee. Three females beating on someone.

6:38pm - I have to go eat. I'll be back.

7:03pm - I'm back.

7:09pm - Beat 2563Eddie is going in with two from 3842 W Diversey. An RD number and event number have been pulled. The RD is HT312793 with the event number of 16181.

7:30pm - Gang disturbance. Armitage and Pulaski.

8:30pm - 1) Disturbance. 3636 W Wolfram. Intoxicated female sitting in front of church garage drinking. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me. 2) Disturbance. 28X4 N Ridgeway. Two to three kids loitering, smoking cigarettes. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me. Please note I didn't make this call, either.

9:00pm - I have to go. I'll be back in the morning. Good night to all.

Disturbance On Shakespeare, Burglar Alarm On Monticello

Good afternoon, everyone, it's 4pm. Warm day outside again. Not as warm as yesterday was, but still. And it's sunny. Late May for ya. Anyway, as I've been saying, this is going to be a pretty easy week for me. Not too much to do, so I have some time for myself and I get to relax. That's good. So, on that note, here's crime until 6, when I stop monitoring.

4:29pm - Disturbance. 3629 W Shakespeare.

5:28pm - 1) Burglar alarm. 1937 N Monticello. 2) They're calling back on the 4:29pm job. 3) Disturbance. 2638 N Pulaski.

5:30pm - Criminal damage. 1945 N Hamlin. Kid tagging the garage.

5:33pm - Battery. 2036 N Avers. At Mozart Park. Inside of the gym, a referee got hit at the basketball game.

5:34pm - Person down. 3031 N Monticello. Male passed out in front.

5:40pm - Battery in progress. Kelvyn Park. Gangbangers beating on a female.

5:58pm - Disturbance. Deming and Kilbourn. Three males loitering on the corner. One might be on house arrest.

6:00pm - I'm going to go for the night. See you all tomorrow at this time. Goodnight, everyone.

Loud Party On Hamlin

Good morning, everyone, it's 12am. It's a pretty warm night out, being in the mid 60s. It's supposed to warm up into the low to mid 80s today, and I think it's supposed to rain. Hopefully not, because I'd like to go see a play today. I'm going to see "Arizona: No Roosters In The Desert" at the Prop Theater on Elston. I'm hoping it'll be a good play. Anyway, this will be a pretty easy week for me. The only things I need to do is meet with a Sergeant in 25 on Tuesday to discuss an incident and go to my CAPS Beat meeting on Wednesday. Otherwise, I'll be just coming home and doing what I do. So with that, here's crime for most of today.

12:01am - Loud music disturbance. 2124 N Hamlin. Loud party.

12:02am - Loud music disturbance. On 2524's Beat.

12:03am - I'm going to go. I'll be back in the morning. Good night, everyone.

9:00am - I'm back. Good morning. At about 5:15am this morning, a nasty accident occurred at Diversey and Kostner. Here's the story.

9:34am - Disturbance. 3900 W Armitage. Drinkers in the park.

9:35am - A unit is doing something at 4420 W Wellington.

10:33am - Parker. Somewhere on Ridgeway.

11:03am - Panic alarm. 3133 N Milwaukee.

11:16am - Disturbance. Milwaukee and Central Park.

12:27pm - There's a few units on the 2600 block of N. Ridgeway, doing something.

1:59pm - Assault. 4242 W Fullerton. A man wants to jump the caller.

2:37pm - EMS run. 3621 W Dickens. Intoxicated male in rear having seizure. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me.

3:01pm - They're calling back on the 11:03am job.

3:23pm - 1) Disturbance. 2971 Ridgeway. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me. 2) Commercial alarm. 3600 W Fullerton. At Infant Welfare Society. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me.

3:30pm - Gang disturbance. Belden and Springfield. Gang activity brewing, looks like a fight is about to begin. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me.

3:42pm - The 3:30pm call is also coming in as a "suspicious vehicle" at 3901 on Belden. Gangbangers in a black car. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me.

3:48pm - Burglary in progress. 3854 W Diversey. 1 male Hispanic, 1 female Hispanic in blue McDonald's uniform. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me.

4:00 to 6:00pm - Went to see the party. I'll monitor this time period tomorrow.

6:55pm - I have to go eat, and with that, I'm gone for the night. See you all tomorrow.

Groups Loitering In The Area

Good evening, everyone, it's 7:57pm. What a day. I went to Soldier Field this morning and afternoon for the autism walk along the lakefront. It was really fun, and really inspiring at some points. It was a good day. But now, I don't feel too well. My jaw is swollen because I have an infected tooth and I keep getting hot and cold, which are signs of the flu. My nose was stuffed, and I had a headache, earlier, but those are gone. Hopefully a good night's sleep will resolve most, if not all, of my health issues I'm having. Anyway, I really don't have much to do this week other than go to school. I'm supposed to go to a play tomorrow afternoon (don't know if I will if I'm still feeling ill), then I'm going to 25 to have a chat with the CAPS Sergeant on Tuesday, then I have my CAPS Beat meeting, for 2523, on Wednesday, then finally, I may have to attend a Student Government meeting. So with all of that, here's crime for this evening.

9:40pm - 1) Disturbance. 2003 N Pulaski. Group loitering at the Marathon gas station. 2) Gang disturbance. Kelvyn Park. Group loitering.

9:44pm - 1) Battery report. 3733 W George. No particulars on this call, but please do note that CPD was called to this building around 6:45 this afternoon. 2) Disturbance. 2459 N Pulaski.

11:00pm - Loud music disturbance. 4337 W Parker.

11:22pm - Gang disturbance. 3600 block of W North Ave. They're partying in the alley.

11:25pm - 1) Loud music disturbance. 2900 and 3000 blocks of N Avers. Loud party. 2) Battery. 3084 N Milwaukee. Caller was slapped by an unknown male.

11:38pm - Beat car 2523Robert is going in with one from 3084 on Milwaukee. Event number is 20591.

11:57pm - Suspicious person. 1627 N Springfield. Male keeps bothering the caller's dog.

CPD On Oakdale

Good evening, everyone, it's 5:38pm. Boy, am I tired! But TGIF it's Friday. Today, my school had it's Talent Show, which was fun with most of the performances, but irritating at the same time because of the stressful situations I was placed in at the end.

5:38pm - Beat car 2523 is doing something at 3630 W Oakdale.

6:22pm - Gang disturbance. Somewhere in the coverage area.

6:27pm - Disturbance. 2847 N Ridgeway. Eight kids being rowdy in front.

6:36pm - Assault in progress. George and Ridgeway. About 15 people on the corner threatening passerby.

6:51pm - Parker. On 2523's Beat.

7:02pm - I have to go eat. I'll be back.

7:25pm - I'm back.

7:44pm - Disturbance. 2934 N Lowell.

7:47pm - Disturbance. Koz Park. Group of drinkers out there.

7:59pm - Traffic accident. 2957 N Kostner.

8:27pm - I'm going to go. I'll be back tomorrow. Have a good night, everyone.

Homicide On California This Morning

Good evening, everyone. I have learned today that a homicide occurred in the Avondale community this afternoon on the 3000 block of N. California, according to Chicago Breaking News and the Chicago Police Department. It occurred at about 1:50pm. According to CBN, the man killed, and another man who was injured in this shooting, were in the area when this happened. They were both taken to Illinois Masonic, where the one was pronounced dead. That one was Jesus Gamboa, of the 2900 block of N. Washtenaw, 21 yrs old. He was shot in the chest. The other man, a 22 yr old man, was shot in the head and remains in critical condition. Reports indicate that this shooting was gang related.

Well, looks like Avondale had it's first murder of 2011. Hopefully this is the only one, but it's sad that this even happened. People need to learn how to put down guns. To the community members in the area: Do something about this. Attend your next CAPS Beat meeting, form a block club, call 911 as often as necessary, and other things you can think of to help the community. But the utmost important thing is to get involved. To those of you in this area, you are on Beat 1411, and your next meeting is on Wednesday, July 6th, at Resurrection Church (3045 N. Francisco) at 6:30pm.

As usual, if you have any insights, questions, concerns and etc., please send them here, the FB page or my e-mail address.

Beat 1431 CAPS Meeting This Evening (5-19-11)

Good evening, everyone. I attended 1431's CAPS meeting this evening. This was my first visit to that meeting, and because I really liked this meeting, I may come back for more. The first thing we did at the meeting was introduce ourselves, than we went to old problems that came up at March's meeting. Those problems were...

* 2608 W. Fullerton - Complaints of noise but nothing resolved.
* 2042 N. Stave and 2700 W St. Francis - Drug and gang activity; no new incidents reported.
* Bingham St. and 2139 N. Point - Numerous crime and disorder issues; no new incidents reported.

Moving onto the new problems:
* Congress Theater (2169 N. Milwaukee) - Lot of parking issues.
* Gunshots on April 25th @ 11pm on the 2400 block of W McLean. CPD responded within 3 minutes and found nothing. Numerous residents reported this incident to the local listserve that serves that area.
* Altgeld and Campbell - Men, most gang members, by the names of "Goss", "Pink Step", "Ray Ray", Ivan Morales, and others are starting all kind of problems in this area, mostly gang disturbances. A resident thinks they may be trying to start the Imperial Gangsters over there. Addresses where they hang out are include 2513 N. Artesian, 2418 N. Campbell, 2457 N. Campbell and 2449 N. Campbell.

Other observations:
* This meeting had a pretty large amount of residents in attendance (about 20). This group seems to be really involved and they seem to really care about their community. I honestly was impressed with what I saw. I haven't seen this much community involvement at a Beat meeting since 1412's back on April 7th.
* There was a community meeting for this Beat area last month. Minutes of it were passed out at tonight's meeting. Of course, no CPD came to the meeting [because it wasn't an official CAPS meeting]. At this meeting, one of the things discussed was of reported "shots fired" on March 22nd, 2011, at 5:22pm and 8:20, at Bingham and Stave. Also discussed was numerous gang graffiti and activity sightings, V-Live issues, gang activity on Milwaukee, Tini Martini applying for a late liquor license, a group of five to six teenage males "suspiciously" loitering behind the annex building of Goethe Elementary @ Lyndale and Talman on April 5th during the late evening, and the infamous homeless male named Daryl Chambers, who was loitering under the Kennedy Expressway between Artesian and Western.
* The most common crimes on Beat 1431 were theft (35 reported incidents), battery (20 reported incidents), and motor vehicle theft (15 reported incidents).

For this Beat meeting post, I ask for those residents who read the blog but don't come to the meetings (because they don't want to), please, go!

Next "official" CAPS meeting: July 19th, 2011 at 14th District Station (2150 N. California) at 6:30PM.

Thank you,
Timmy

Gang Disturbance On Belmont

Good afternoon, everyone, it's 3:20pm. What a beautiful day out. It's in the upper 60s right now with quite a bit of sun. And I'm in a good mood :). Tired though. So anyway, I'm more than likely going to CAPS Beat 1431's meeting tonight at the 14th District Station. I hope a considerable number of residents show up, including any fans I may have living on that Beat. Also, tomorrow, I have to stay after school for our Talent Show. I'm of the people in charge of it so I have to monitor it. Then I have an eventful weekend. I'm doing the autism walk on Saturday at Soldier Field then I'm going to a play on Sunday. So these next few days should be fun. Summer is almost hear, after all. So, with that, here's crime for portions of this afternoon and evening.

3:25pm - Gang disturbance. 37X3 W Belmont.

4:04pm - I'm going to go out for a little bit. I'll be back.

4:36pm - I'm back.

5:38pm - I'm gone for the night. Going to get ready for 1431's CAPS meeting. Goodnight, all.

8:27pm - I'm back for now. Shots Fired. Koz Park. Four to five shots heard. People running.

8:29pm - A slow down is being given on the 8:27pm job. Officers see or hear nothing, and there are no handwavers.

8:30pm - The call is a 19Boy for now, but Beat 2563Boy, one of the units that responded, will hang out in the area. Also, 2563B reports that a citizen told them a small brown vehicle with tinted windows were involved.

8:33pm - Shots Fired. Diversey and Springfield. Four to five shots fired by four to five male Hispanics who ran towards the Walgreens at Diversey and Pulaski.

8:38pm - Shots Fired. 2600 N Avers. 6 heard.

8:39pm - The 8:38pm job is a 19B. 2505 has been there for nearly 10 minutes and hasn't heard a thing.

8:47pm - 1) 2505 has a traffic stop at Diversey and Kilbourn. 2) Suspicious person. 3607 W Fullerton. At the Tony's. Male in his 50s with a black Spider man jacket keeps coming in and out of the store.

9:01pm - Panic alarm. 3133 N Milwaukee.

9:51pm - Shots Fired. Kelvyn Park.

9:52pm - 2563B says it's fireworks at Kelvyn Park.

9:59pm - Shots Fired. 2511 N Lowell. 4 shots heard.

10:00pm - I'm going to bed. See you all tomorrow.

Gang Disturbance On Pulaski

Good evening, everyone, it's 5:30pm. It's been a little warmer out, which is good. .

6:14pm - Gang disturbance. 19X9 N Pulaski.

6:33pm - I have to go eat. I'll be back.

6:57pm - I'm back.

7:44pm - Assault in progress. 2018 N Avers. Two males threatening to fight. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me.

8:19pm - Missing person. Central Park and Wabansia. The wife took off with kids, and the caller thinks they are missing. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me.

8:31pm - Disturbance. 2515 N Lawndale. Male parked in private garage won't move vehicle. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me.

8:38pm - Disturbance. 3106 Haussen CT, 2nd floor, somebody making too much noise, per caller. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me.

9:00pm - I have to go. I'll be back tomorrow. Have a good night, everyone.

Beat 2525 CAPS Meeting This Evening (5-17-11)

Good evening, everyone. I attended 2525's CAPS meeting tonight. This was my first and only visit to that meeting. There were no old problems to report since only one person attended the last meeting (I'll get to that in a second), so I'll move straight to the new problem brought up, which was:

* A lot of graffiti in the area of Kedvale and Fullerton.

Before I share my observations, I have two announcements to make. First, a number of arrests have been made from the string of burglaries that have been occurring in the area of McLean and Central Park. Two, there will be a free bike workshop in the parking lot of the 25th District on Saturday beginning at 10:00am. The CPD, and others, will be there to teach people how to ride bikes, to fix them, to give out free helmets and a number of other things. It promises to be a promising event, but I won't be there. I'm doing the autism walk.

Other observations:
> This was the poorest CAPS Beat meeting I've ever attended. It was horrible. There were only three residents, two from the same block. Commander Velez tells me that attendance at 2525's meetings has always been really horrible. This is the best attendance he's seen in a while, actually. They've had to cancel meetings before because of only one person showing up, or in a couple of cases, no one. But someone from the 30th Ward told me that 2535's attendance is worse. Not a soul shows up. So I have this to say. People on Beat 2525: ATTEND your CAPS meeting! It's sickening in my opinion that people always want to make complaints about this Beat but no one ever shows up to the meetings. At this point, CPD is pleading for people to come to these meetings. Horrible stuff.
> The most crimes were battery (31 reported incidents), burglary (27 reported incidents) and narcotics (22 reported incidents).

Next meeting: July 9, 2011 at Mozart Park (2036 N. Avers) at 6:30PM.

Thank you,
Timmy

Walgreens Well Being Check On Milwaukee

Good afternoon, everyone, it's 4:15pm. School today was pretty fun but tiring as usual. I'd be a little less tired if it weren't so cold out today. It's only in the upper 40s or lower 50s, for the middle of May. Instead of wearing shorts, we're in winter coats. What a shame. But it'll warm up soon enough. Anyway, I'm only going to blog until 5:30pm today because I have a meeting to go tonight. It's the Avondale Neighborhood Association meeting, at St. Hyacinth's. It begins at 7. Speaking of that, I have quite a week ahead of me. Tomorrow I may go to CAPS Beat 2525's meeting for a visit, then 1431's meeting on Thursday. Then on Friday, I have to stay after school for the Talent Show. To top it off, I'll be in the autism walk at Soldier Field on Saturday. So a pretty busy week for me, you can say. With that, here's crime for the next hour.

4:37pm - Check the well being. 2001 N Milwaukee Ave. At Walgreens. 10 yr old boy told the manager of Walgreens that his father is trying to kill him. The boy is in the stock room and the father is in the store, shopping.

4:44pm - Battery. 18X0 W Armitage. Caller's son was beaten up by a gang member. This occurred about 25 minutes ago somewhere else.

4:52pm - Traffic accident. Homer and Ashland.

4:53pm - Some call at 3034 N Francisco.

5:04pm - The 4:44pm job is actually an attempt robbery. It occurred at 1900 W Armitage. Wanted is a male Hispanic, 20-25 yrs old, 5'5, 200 pounds, red and black checker shirt, and blue jeans. An RD number is being pulled for this, and it's HT298888 with the event number of 11585.

5:11pm - Traffic accident. 2827 N Elston. Two cars, no injures.

5:25pm - There was a call on Kimball somewhere regarding a homeless man causing problems.

5:30pm - I'm going to go, and on that note, I'm gone for the night. See you all tomorrow. Good night, everyone.

Beat 1413 CAPS Meeting Thursday (5-12-11)

Good evening, everyone. I attended 1413's CAPS meeting on Thursday (sorry for the delayed post). This was my first and only visit to that meeting. The first thing we did at the meeting was introduce ourselves, than we went to old problems that came up at March's meeting. Those problems were...

* Gang activity @ Maple Playlot - It has calmed down.
* Arnie's Food and Liquor at Central Park and Fullerton - Owner did not come to meeting.

Moving onto the new problems:
* 3545 W. Fullerton - Gang members all up and down Drake from Fullerton to Armitage
* McLean and St. Louis - Rampant gang activity.
* Armitage and Sawyer - New disturbances with drunks at the corner store. A fight broke out on the day of the CAPS meeting.

Other observations:
* This meeting had a considerable amount of residents in attendance (10 to 13). This group seems to be involved and they seem to care about their community.
* I lost the crime stats paper I received from this meeting, so I have no crime stats for this Beat.

For this Beat meeting post, I ask for those residents who read the blog but don't come to the meetings (because they don't want to), please, go!

Next meeting: July 14th, 2011 at Logan Square Boys and Girls Club (3226 W. Palmer) at 6:30PM.

Thank you,
Timmy

Burglar Alarm On Diversey

Good morning, everyone, it's 12am. Again, it's cold out for mid May. It'll warm up though. So anyway, I'm monitoring 25 from now until the first call comes out after midnight, then I'll go to bed and get up at some point in the morning to monitor again. I'll monitor until my dinner time. Also, I've got a somewhat busy week ahead of me, and this time, community related. Tomorrow there is the Avondale Neighborhood Association meeting at St. Hyacinth's at 7pm, then I may go to CAPS Beat 2525's meeting on Tuesday (at Mozart Park, beginning at 6:30pm), and then I may go to 1431's CAPS Beat meeting being held at the 14th District on Thursday. To top it off, I have to stay after school on Friday for our Talent Show. Oh, and then one last thing. I'm doing the autism walk on Saturday at Soldier Field. So on that note, here's crime for this afternoon and evening.

12:02am - Burglar alarm. 3654 W Diversey.

12:03am - I'm going to go. I'll be back in the morning. Good night, everyone.

9:00am - I'm back. Good morning, everyone.

11:13am - Disturbance/suspicious person. 4011 W Fullerton. Male was loitering in the building, and is now loitering on the SW corner of Fullerton and Pulaski. This guy also dropped a bag with unknown items inside.

11:35am - Disturbance. 3107 N Haussen. Male ringing the caller's doorbell. When Beat car 2524 hears this call, he states that this man was arrested yesterday for battery and speaks only Polish.

2:26pm - 1) Parker. 1802 N Harding. 2) Burglar report. 2814 N Ridgeway.

2:27pm - Burglar report. 2202 N Karlov.

2:31pm - EMS run. Milwaukee and Ridgeway. Drunk male needs to go to the hospital.

3:58pm - Wanted from the 2:27pm job is a dark colored van that had three male Hispanics in it, that had masks on. This crime occurred at 11am. The perps were seen on surveillance video, and may be in an alley nearby, looking to commit more burglaries.

5:20pm - Beat car 2522 is going in with one from 4300 W Diversey on a TVB.

6:19pm - A unit says that there were gangbangers in the "abandoned" garage behind 2929 N Ridgeway. Great...

6:45pm - I'm going to go eat, and that note, I'm gone for the night. See you all tomorrow at 4:15 with 14. Have a good night.

Loud Music On Hamlin

Good evening, everyone, it's 6:33pm. Today's been an ok day for me. Cold though. It'll be cold for a couple of days, in the low to mid 50s, until Tuesday, then it'll warm into the upper 50s and 60s. Oh well. Well, I have nothing else to say at this time, so here's crime for this evening.

6:37pm - Loud music disturbance. 2012 N Hamlin.

8:01pm - Battery in progress. 3110 N Milwaukee. Two homeless men fighting.

8:11pm - Traffic accident. Kostner and Wrightwood. Hit and run.

8:12pm - Disturbance. 2039 N Avers. Loud noise.

8:22pm - EMS run. 1650 N Avers. 11 yr old kid is hurt at this location.

9:12pm - Panic alarm. 3111 N Kilbourn.

11:03pm - EMS run. 4438 W Wrightwood. At Kelvyn Park. Man down with blood around him near the field house. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me.

11:43pm - Shots Fired. 2144 N Springfield. Four to five heard.

11:52pm - Foot chase. Fullerton and Avers. Between Avers and Hamlin, south alley. Two male Hispanics fleeing from CPD.

11:53pm - Beat 2554 has an open door at 3809 W Fullerton.

Crime Blotter For May 13, 2011

Good afternoon, everyone, it's 5:39pm. Sorry for no post here yesterday, but Blogger was down. I did make a post, though, and you can read it here. I've had a bad day today, but will relax now. Anyway, the only thing I'll be doing this weekend is participating in the Avondale Neighborhood Association Clean and Green. The event kicks off tomorrow morning at 10am, at Lorca Elementary (Milwaukee and Springfield). Then I'll be doing my own thing for the rest of the weekend. With that, here's crime for this afternoon and evening.

7:00pm - I have to go eat. I'll be back.

7:15pm - I'm back.

7:58pm - I'm going on my break. I'll be back in an hour.

8:56pm - I'm back.

9:30pm - Beat 2563Charlie has a traffic stop at Cortland and Hamlin.

9:39pm - Gang disturbance. 38X0 W North. Several loitering in front.

9:54pm - A unit needs some assistance at Concord and Lawndale.

9:56pm - Gang disturbance. 36X4 W Shakespeare. Group on the block and in front.

10:14pm - 1) Burglar report. 2834 N Lawndale. 2) Theft. 3039 N Pulaski.

10:47pm - Speed chase. Speed chase. Dark blue vehicle taking off on Beat 2554 at Central Park and Cortland, heading east towards Drake.

10:48pm - Beat 2599 is telling 2554 to terminate the chase. It's for traffic from the sound of things. Car was last seen heading north on Kimball heading north towards Armitage.

11:59pm - 2554 pulls an RD number from the earlier incident. It's HT294894 with the event number of 20703.

12:00am - I'm going to go. I'll be back after at 4:15pm tomorrow afternoon with 14. See you all then. Good night.

Car Call On Tripp

Good afternoon, everyone, it's 6:18pm. School was pretty good today, but tiring and long, as usual. I had to stay until 4:30 again to help out some people do auditions for the Talent Show we're having next week. Anyway, I would just like to announce the things I will be engaged in for the remainder of this week. I'm going to CAPS Beat 1413's meeting tomorrow evening, then I have a Student Government meeting I need to stay after school for on Friday, and then I'll be involved in the Avondale Neighborhood Association's Clean and Green Saturday morning. With that, here's crime for this late afternoon and early evening.

6:45pm - Some call at 2426 N Tripp regarding a car.

6:47pm - I have to go eat. I'll be back.

7:06pm - I'm back.

7:07pm - Disturbance. 1804 N Harding.

7:10pm - Battery in progress. Fullerton and Monticello. In the alley, the manager of Tony's is fighting with a shoplifter.

7:15pm - Reckless driver. Diversey and Ridgeway. Green Nissan with a plate of X563373 is speeding and swerving on the road. Headed towards George on Ridgeway. I didn't see anything...

7:26pm - I'm going to go do some other stuff tonight. I'll see you all tomorrow, either in the morning or in the afternoon. Good night, everyone.

Loud Music Disturbance @ Barry And Kostner

Good afternoon, everyone, it's 6:06pm. It's a scorcher outside! It's ab0ut 90 degrees on this hot mid May day. Didn't think it'd get that warm today, and personally, I didn't want it to. Oh well. Anyway, I just got in the door from school. This has been my longest school day ever, having spent a little over 11 hours away from home. I'll be getting some good sleep tonight. Also, tomorrow, I have to stay after school again until around 4, and hopefully I'll be home by 5:00. With that, here's crime for a couple of hours.

6:12pm - Loud music disturbance. Barry and Kostner.

6:16pm - Animal bite. 3711 W Diversey. 3 yr old got bitten by the neighbor's dog, who refuses to show documents for the dog.

6:21pm - Municipal ordinance violation. 2010 N Central Park. At Funston school. 11 yr old student gave another student a BB gun. The student who received the gun is at the school with their parents, and the parents of the kid who had the gun are on the way.

6:22pm - Animal fighting. 2844 N Avers. Two pitbulls fighting in the rear.

6:27pm - Gang disturbance. 27X0 N Lawndale. Five of them, three of them on bikes, flashing gang signs.

6:43pm - Ambulance needed at the 6:16pm job. It appears mom hit her head on the ground.

6:45pm - Hold-up alarm. 2324 N Hamlin.

6:49pm - Disturbance. 1951 N Monticello. Group of males have been in front for a few hours now, drinking.

7:05pm - 1) Shots Fired. 2511 N Lowell. Four shots heard. 2) Shots Fired. Atlgeld and Kildare. 3) Shots Fired. 2443 N Kildare.

7:13pm - Gang disturbance and some parkers on 2523's Beat.

7:20pm - I have to go eat. I'll be back.

7:36pm - I'm back.

8:20pm - They're calling back on the 6:49pm job.

8:41pm - Person down. 2986 N Ridgeway. Male White in a yellow sweater. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me.

8:45pm - 1) Criminal damage in progress. 2218 N Central Park. Anonymous reports three male Hispanic teens spray painting garages. They are 16-17 years old, light complected, short hair, and running through alley towards Palmer. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me. 2) Theft. Kelvyn Park. Male Hispanic with curly hair, a mustache, red shirt and blue jeans stole caller's bike. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me. 3) Gang disturbance. 16X3 N Hamlin. Oddly enough, the caller says they're heading north on Kostner from Diversey, which is at least a mile from this location. Thanks to ProdigalOne for obtaining this call for me.

9:05pm - Have to go. Hope everyone has a great night, and I'll see you all tomorrow :).

Rear Disturbance On Ridgeway

Good afternoon, everyone, it's 3:36pm. I'm not in a good mood. It's just not my day whatsoever. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. I'll be staying after school tomorrow and Wednesday for a project I'm involved with. On that note here's crime for portions of this afternoon and evening.

4:01pm - Beat 2573 has an on-view disturbance in the rear of 2979 N Ridgeway. Probably with a drunk, trespassing into the vacant building at this address.

4:11pm - Battery in progress. 29X5 N Ridgeway. People fighting.

4:34pm - Disturbance. 2701 N Pulaski. Argument with someone who works at a business who won't refund the caller.

5:33pm - Threatening suicide. 4343 W Wrightwood. At Kelvyn Park High School. 15 yr old in the main office threatening to kill herself.

5:34pm - 1) Disturbance. 4242 W Fullerton. At Daddy's. 2) Burglar report. 2753 N Kostner.

5:56pm - Battery in progress. Keystone and Armitage. 10 gangbangers fighting.

6:06pm - I'm gone for the night. I need to clear my head and just have some time away from everything. See you all tomorrow. Good night.

Happy Mother's Day 2011

Good morning, everyone, and Happy Mother's Day to all mothers. It's 9:07am on this beautiful Sunday morning. It's currently in the mid 50s and will warm into the mid 60s today. I just hope there's no violence today. There were two incidents on my block last night. Anyway, I've got a busy week at school coming up. I have to stay after school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Tuesday and Wednesday I'm helping out doing auditions for our Talent Show next week, then there's a Student Government meeting on Friday. On Saturday, I have a community clean-up somewhere here in the neighborhood, and then I may drop by 1413's CAPS Beat meeting on Thursday, depending on the weather. So a busy week for me. Also, yes, I'm monitoring 25 today. From now until 3:16pm, then again from 3:47 to 6:06. With that, here's crime for this morning and afternoon.

10:40am - Disturbance. 2421 N Keeler. Argument with the neighbor over a scratch on the car.

12:17pm - Disturbance. 2906 N Harding. Argument with the neighbor.

1:05pm - Assault. 3942 W Barry. Two neighbors were arguing and one threatened to go get "something".

2:11pm - Backlog in 25 at 14:11 hours.

2:12pm - Animal bite. 3927 W Belmont. At the animal hospital. Pit bull attacked the caller's dog.

3:16pm - Alright, on my break now. I'll be back at 3:47 :).

3:47pm - I'm back.

4:19pm - Check the well being. Pulaski and Schubert. Female teen sitting on the CTA bus stop bench keeps passing out. She has a dog with her. She may be a missing child.

5:20pm - Gang disturbance. Wrightwood and Kostner. Group of them loitering by Kelvyn Park.

6:06pm - I'm going to go for the night. I'll be back tomorrow afternoon. See you all then.

Community Violence: Saturday Morning

Good afternoon, everyone. I have some violence that happened this morning to report on. Both incidents involved gunshots, and were early this morning. The incidents are about six to seven blocks apart from each other, but not sure if they're related or not. Here is the information on the incidents:

• "Woke up to what sounded like 3-4 gunshots and then a car driving away near the Schubert/St Louis intersection, at about 4:15 AM. It could have been a little ways away, I wasn't properly awake when it happened - can you look into whether anything happened?"
• "shots were fired at 6 AM...seven or eight shots...two then five or six...in earshot of Avers & George/Wellington..."

Anyone have insights, or comments? If so, send them here, the FB page, or to my inbox.

Update: I've got two more comments confirming the "Shots Fired" incident on Beat 1412 in the area just east of Diversey and Central Park:

• "Yes early around 4:15 or 4:30 this morning there was about 4 gunshots sounded like it came from St Louis and Schubert or Schubert and Drake. I did call but I dont know if the cops came or not didnt hear them pass by..."
• Yes I heard a car speeding down my street on Drake (2800 block) and few seconds later about 4 gun shots around 4:15 or so. To much was going on during the whole night. And of course I called it in. I think I do remembet[r] hearing shots during thr[e] night but didnt know where they came from."

Update #2, 12:09am on 5/8/11 - I have information for all of you regarding the George and Avers incident. It was a bona fide gang-related shooting with a 29 yr old man getting shot in the lower leg. There was one call of "Shots Fired" on the 2900 block of N Avers from an anonymous caller who saw nothing, then a call came from the 3000 block of N Avers with a woman calling to say her brother was shot in the leg. The shooters were Maniac Latin Disciple gang members who fled east on Wellington towards Hamlin. One officer said that the offender may have been about 19 yrs old, 5'10, 150 pounds, short hair, no facial hair, wearing dark clothes, blue or black, last seen on Hamlin, and then walking towards Milwaukee Ave.