CBS Chicago: Cautionary tale after 'bump & run' auto theft

[VIDEO] This is really an old story, however, something else to look out for at a time when carjacking or perhaps even car thefts are on the rise. Be very careful when someone bumps into your car from behind, someone could get into your car and drive out while you check out the damage. This incident happened in the South Loop.

#Tucker on the crime problem and the grinches who rob volunteers and burn down Christmas trees

 

[VIDEO] I'm sharing this segment from Tucker Carlson Tonight on FOX News with you today because the commentary you see by host Tucker Carlson discusses some local events that perhaps you missed. Most certainly I missed these events.

To bring home some of the points Carlson is discussing here is there needs to be a reckoning on the crime issue nationally. Certainly it's an issue not just in the city where last weekend a group of youths converged near Millennium Park to cause enough issues for the police to start making plans to address any future disturbances. Basically as a reaction problem as this issue has been going on for a while as this isn't the first time I wrote about youths coming to downtown to cause problems as theft, vandalism, or even just causing major disturbances.

So he starts off with attacks on Christmas trees because well tis the season. And the first thing he mentions was that a group of My Block My Hood My City volunteers were robbed putting up holiday decorations in the history south side Bronzeville neighborhood. 

BTW, if you don't want to listen to Carlson here's a story from CBS Chicago. According to the article this crime occurred at 48th & King Drive and part of a team of volunteers putting up Christmas decorations from  35th Street to 115th Street.

Game Stop "smash & grab" in Chatham

 Downtown has been victims of "smash and grabs" even some suburbs are reporting such crimes most recently a Louis Vuitton store in Oak Brook, Illinois. Try one of those in Chatham at a Game Stop on 85th/Cottage Grove.

A report from Hyde Park Patch:

A video game store in the Chatham neighborhood also reported an unknown amount of merchandise was stolen at around 6:30 p.m.

No one was in custody in relation to any of the incidents as of Saturday afternoon, police told Patch.

To go back downtown not too long after this incident there was a smash and grab on the Magnificent Mile at the Neiman Marcus store. Here's a story from CBS Chicago on this [VIDEO]

WGN News: State's Attorney says she's not soft on crime

 

[VIDEO] Just remember over the past summer a poll listed both State's Attorney Kim Foxx and Mayor Lori Lightfoot as under water on the crime issue. After what happened in the Austin neighborhood on the west side last month with no charges for "mutual combatants" she's at an event with the west side NAACP.

The State's Attorney claimed to have very little power as far as bail which she says judge's control. She explained a law passed by the state which not the ability to pay cash for bond shouldn't determine whether or not you're held. It should be your threat to public safety should determine whether or not you remain in custody.

She's very concerned about the "false narrative" around her job performance as State's Attorney. I don't know if her office's handling of the west side shooting which is also mentioned in this report along with her spat between the Mayor and Police Supt. David Brown has helped change that false narrative.

The crime issue in Chicago

 

[VIDEO] I've been hearing about this on the radio today and decided this is a good story to share. We see a spat between Mayor Lightfoot and State's Attorney Foxx over the lack of charges in the case of a shooting in Austin on the west side.

Both the Mayor and the State's Attorney have polled under water as far as the crime issue this past August. Also bear in mind Cook County voters re-elected Kim Foxx last year.

I want to share another post from yesterday over at the CapFax which discusses the lack of charges in the Austin neighborhood shooting from last Friday. Here's one quotable:

False arrests and convictions have cost city taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. A more careful and just approach has been warranted, but this is ridic.

Is Lightfoot wrong in her comments towards the State's Attorney? Should there be more effort to charge the gunmen? 

State Police to double presence on Chicago area expressways

 A subject I've been looking at of late and it seems there will be some efforts to make the commute safer for everyone traveling through the city. Story from the Lake & McHenry County Scanner

The Illinois State Police announced they will be more than doubling their patrol presence on Chicago area expressways beginning Friday in an effort to combat a surge in shootings.

The patrol presence will be increased by 157% during “peak criminal activity times” on Chicago area expressways as part of District Chicago’s Safe Drive Detail.

This increased presence will begin in the evening and continue through the overnight hour shifts, Illinois State Police (ISP) said.

...

As part of the Safe Drive Detail, the ISP will reallocate officers from around the state to District Chicago to prevent roadway violence and provide ISP Patrol District Chicago maximum staffing in high violence shifts throughout each month.

There will also be additional enforcement and visibility details taking place throughout Chicagoland expressways aimed at reducing violence.

“ISP’s number one priority is and will always be to keep the public safe. ISP officers will continue to proactively patrol Chicagoland expressways with the goal of ensuring public safety and preventing violence,” state police said in a statement.

Where is Kierra Coles?

 

[VIDEO] Ms. Coles is a Chicago area postal worker who went missing in 2018. She was last seen outside of her home at 81st & Vernon and authorities are offering a reward for information on her whereabouts.

In this story from WGN her family is in Pilsen celebrating her 29th birthday on Sept. 24. Sad that she's not around to celebrate her birthday and also bear in mind Coles was also three months pregnant. The family hopes that Coles will be around for her 30th birthday.

Chicago Tonight: Judge Timothy Evans responds to blame on courts for crime spike

 

[VIDEO] Since he was mentioned in the comments on this blog we hear from Chief Cook County Judge Timothy Evans on Chicago Tonight who answering to the criticism of Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Supt. David Brown as far as the recent spike in crime. The Mayor and Supt believes the courts aren't upholding their part in upholding the law even as police officers are taking people charged with murder off the street.

Capitol Fax: As expressway shootings surge, state still working on cam contract

 Quite a few expressway shootings have happened on the Dan Ryan or the Bishop Ford aka Calumet Expressways or even on I-57 as you head west beyond 95th from the Dan Ryan. One solution is an "expressway cam" there are already 600 up that don't show video. And also a quick fact arrests are rare in these expressway shootings.

This is why I'm sharing yesterday's post from CapFax that shares some information about this issue.

As expressway shootings surge, state still working on cam contract https://t.co/mloch8lYGZ

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) July 7, 2021

I don't know if anyone who's reading this blog has experienced an expressway shooting and the disruptions that it creates. However we want to get to where we want to go safely and this is also worth discussing with your state legislators.

Did you hear about a shooting at 87/Dan Ryan late last month?

 

[VIDEO] I've wanted to post this since I found out about this on social media. The video above was posted to CBS Chicago's YouTube channel on June 25 and if I got the timing correct as I listen to the narration by reporter Charlie Del Mar this incident occurred the day before on a Thursday morning.

The man who recorded this dramatic footage Huber Pereznegron was sitting right behind when he sees a gunman get out of a vehicle to shoot at another vehicle somewhere ahead of them. This is a very scary situation to be a witness to and thankfully Pereznegron and his passenger weren't hurt in this incident.

This all happened at 87th and the Dan Ryan we know this is often a busy thoroughfare. How many people shop at that Jewel-Osco or go to that Chipotle or Wendy's? Conversely how many people shop at that Home Depot, Marshall's, or Food 4 Less?  How many people hear about this incident and choose not to go into those stores even if this is a rare incident?

Be careful out there.

WGN: Over 60 arrested after chaos ensues in Chicago's Loop

 

[VIDEO] I think what was alluded to by these WGN anchors on Monday was the planning and assurance by the Chicago Police there won't be many issues then we hear over 60 people were arrested causing issues in the Loop. We hear about a large crowd (or mob) of unruly young people came downtown setting off fireworks and setting fires in garbage cans.

This seems to be a recurring theme unfortunately. Often we're hearing about large gatherings of young people in downtown Chicago. And sometimes they do cause issues.

Chicago Tribune: No bail for 55-year-old man arrested in fatal CTA bus stabbing in Chatham

This is very scary. You may have heard about the fatal stabbing on the Cottage Grove bus near 87th on Friday:

Van Crocker is accused of stabbing a 66-year-old man around 4:30 p.m. Friday on a CTA bus near 8600 S. Cottage Grove Ave.

According to prosecutors, after paying the bus fare and standing in front of the victim, Crocker pulled out a knife and stabbed the man in the chest.

The bus driver notified police. Officers arrived at the scene and recovered the knife from the defendant’s hand, prosecutors said. The stabbing was captured on CTA surveillance video.The 66-year-old man was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Crocker made admissions that he wanted to kill the man when he stabbed him, prosecutors said. Crocker and the man did not know each other.

Crocker’s public defender said he has a GED from Hirsch Metropolitan High School. She argued that Crocker has mental health issues and did not have the capacity during the stabbing or during interrogation by officers and was not checked for mental health conditions by officers.

Judge Arthur Willis denied Crocker bail, citing a threat posed by him to people in the community.

He wanted to kill the man on that bus but they didn't know each other. Be careful out there everyone. 

Here's a brief video from WBBM-TV about this story Crocker was in bond court on Sunday [VIDEO]

CBS Chicago: Could Armed Security Guards Be Coming To CTA Buses, Trains?

 

[VIDEO] Very interesting armed guards on CTA buses and trains. The last time this was proposed it was back when CTA eliminated the job of conductor on all rail lines just over 20 years ago. There were two people on the train usually at all times and perhaps more than that back when CTA personnel could actually collect fare on the trains - like Metra still does.

I think the transit union proposed a transit police. Other transit authorities around America has their own transit police such as MARTA (Atlanta), BART (San Francisco), or even WMATA (Washington Metro). Of course this is about using armed security not creating a police force for CTA.

It's perfectly reasonable at least from the transit union representative Keith Hill that there are routes on CTA that are in need of a security presence to back up bus drivers and certainly rail operators. They even noted an incident where a disgruntled passenger shot at a bus when the driver requested the passenger wear a face mask.

I do sometimes wish there were some security who could get the homeless off the train once it stops at 95th like they used to. Perhaps another thing the union could ask for.

CBS Chicago: A year after the unrest

 

[VIDEO] I hate to share this on Memorial Day weekend where many of us expect things to begin to turn to normal as we're starting to get out of this pandemic. A year ago downtown was hit by rioting and the neighborhoods was hit by looting. 

We see shots of what looks like 95th & Calumet where business owner Shontee Ross' salon was looted the last weekend of May last year. She has deepened her resolve and will reopen her business near 69th & King Drive where we see drone shots from CBS 2 of that particular area. Ross does make the below statement:

“There’s no way that you can look at neighborhoods like this and say looting could have been justified,” Ross said.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy memorial day. 

Update to the alleged gunman who chased Sen. Sims in Springfield

 You can read the update at CapFax. The man a Sprinfield business owner named Michael L. Hoyle pleaded not guilty and his trial is schedule for July. He was able to post a $15,000 bail the day after the incident.

Springfield-area man who allegedly chased Sen. Sims in his car and pointed gun enters not guilty plea https://t.co/1mHmKu8M9b

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) April 23, 2021

CapFax: Sen. Sims chased by alleged gunman

Elgie Sims

So sorry to hear this happened to State Sen. Elgie Sims as he performed his duties in Springfield. This seems like an odd road rage incident. If this guy had a revoked F.O.I.D card and certainly would show his anger in such a way he shouldn't have been released after posting bail. 

Sen. Sims chased by alleged gunman https://t.co/TzwKSXaSjt

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) March 19, 2021

Also noted from the State Journal-Register article that Rich Miller linked to:

ABC 7 Chicago: Cook County gun sales spike during COVID-19 pandemic, data shows

 

[VIDEO] Just saw this on YouTube this afternoon and decided to share it with you. This is how Chuck Goudie starts off his report:

For months the I-Team has been looking into a nationwide run on guns and especially the appetite for firearms in Illinois, following COVID lockdowns and the violence after the George Floyd killing by police.

Every time a gun is sold in Cook County, the taxpayers benefit because the gun buyer pays a tax. According to Open Records data obtained by the I-Team, business was booming last year.

Total gun tax revenue in Cook County was more than $1.9 million dollars, a tax revenue increase of 56% compared with the previous year.

How many of you have purchased a gun? Are you concerned about these uprecedented and uncertain times? 

WGN: CTA bus driver carjacked in employee parking lot Friday afternoon

 

[VIDEO] The incident shown here happened at 77th Bus Garage (210 W. 79th Street). Suspects carjacked a CTA bus driver who gave up his keys and ran. He was still shot at while running but wasn't hit - thank goodness.

This was said to be the third incident of gun violence towards CTA bus drivers with an incident at 57th & Laramie and on the 6 Jeffery Jump.

Be careful out there everyone.

CBS Chicago: Father Pfleger marches to show disatisfaction with Breonna Taylor grand jury decision.

 

[VIDEO] As with George Floyd at the end of May protests - or riots - with regards to the case of Louisville, Kentucky native Breonna Taylor goes nationwide. Father Pfleger leads a march from his St. Sabina parish to show dissatisfaction with this decision.

If you didn't know it was announced yesterday by the Attorney General of Kentucky that there would be no charges against three officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor. One officer however will be a charge with wanton endangerment of Ms. Taylor's neighbors as he reportedly fired a shot at another apartment nearby.

That shot was in response to a shot fired by her boyfriend Kenneth Walker when police came to break down the door. There was a no-knock warrant however some reports were emerging that police had announced their presence and had knocked. Either way tragically Breonna Taylor was killed in a gunfight. Regardless none of the three officers involved will be charged in Ms. Taylor's death.

Unfortunately I think a lot of people have made up their minds on this particular issue. There were protests in Chicago and thankfully as this report from our local CBS affiliate indicated they were largely peaceful aside from wanton vandalism of a monument in Logan Square where most of the protests in Chicago were taking place. Louisville, Kentucky has some unrest but has calmed down after quick action by authorities there.

EDIT 9:47 AM This is more about the protest near St. Sabina. Pflegers group yesterday disrupted traffic at the intersection of 79th & Racine. Again via CBS Chicago [VIDEO]

Political Forum with Ald. Anthony Beale (Ward 9)

 

[VIDEO] I've been meaning to share this since getting the email blast from the Ald. Beale's office sharing the word on this. Ald. Beale has been a vocal opponent of Mayor Lori Lightfoot especially with the unrest going on in the city during our most tumultuous summer. You may have even seen him on FOX News last month and if you haven't here it is.

So here on this recent edition Beale talks about the financial issues facing the city during this pandemic and how he was able to prevent the looting of business in Ward 9.