Friday, July 9, 2021 |   View in browser

Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights

Every week, Linda Hansen attends the Evanston Police Department’s Deployment Meetings, takes notes on the topics discussed and writes about other police-related matters of interest to the people who work and live in Evanston.

Officer Howard calling out "Bingo!" at Mason Park on July 2

The official Fourth of July fireworks show may have been cancelled this year, but that didn’t stop celebrants from illegally setting off fireworks in all quadrants. A morning run through city parks two days later revealed shards of rockets, fountains, firecrackers and other explosives. 

At least 108 people were shot (17 fatally) over the Fourth of July weekend in Chicago. Here in Evanston, the situation was clearly different. Reported incidents included two residential burglaries, two motor vehicle burglaries, a commercial burglary, a construction site burglary, a battery, and four shots fired calls.

Of greater concern is the local appearance of “gray death”, an opioid combination of dangerous drugs that has led to fatal overdoses in the U.S. The powdery drug cocktail containing several potent opioids including heroin, fentanyl and U-4770 (a synthetic also known as pink or pink heroin) has been reported in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and now, according to EPD detectives, possibly here. An amount of the suspected drug was seized along with other controlled substances in a drug bust last week. It is so deadly that detectives have been warned not to touch it.

Incidents from the past week are highlighted below.

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Deployment Meeting – July 7, 2021

• Robbery: On 7/5 around 1 AM, a victim told police that she was approached in the 2000 block of Wesley by an offender who battered her and made off with her mobile phone.
• Shots fired calls:
  • 6/29 around 7 PM in the 1800 block of Ashland. Witnesses suspected fireworks.
  • 6/30 around 11 AM in the 1400 block of Simpson. Officers heard gunshots in the area and observed a fleeing vehicle. Police were able to interview an individual whose vehicle was struck by a bullet. Police retrieved a casing across the street a few days later.
  • 7/1 around 11 PM in the 1800 block of Hartrey. A caller reported hearing gunshots but officers at the scene were unable to find anything.
  • 7/5 at 12:30 AM near Clyde and Brummel. A caller reported hearing shots fired. The area was checked. Nothing was found.
• Motor vehicle burglaries, both on 7/3:
  • The inside of a vehicle was ransacked in the 600 block of Howard; nothing was reported missing.
  • Between 8:45 and 9 PM, a subject entered a vehicle through an open window in the 300 block of Dodge. A wallet and its contents were taken.
• On 7/2, the Special Operations Group (SOG) concluded a narcotics investigation with the execution of a search warrant in the 2200 block of Central St. The search resulted in the recovery of approximately 11 grams of suspected crack cocaine, 4 grams of suspected heroin/fentanyl (suspected “gray death”) and 250 grams of suspected cannabis. Andre Stinnette was charged possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

• On 7/1 at 6 PM S.O.G detectives observed a vehicle parked illegally in the 1400 block of Darrow. Detectives observed a handgun in the vehicle. A search warrant resulted in the recovery of a loaded handgun and cannabis from the vehicle. Devonte Moret was charged with aggravated UUW by a convicted felon and unlawful possession of cannabis.
• There were two residential burglary incidents during the deployment period:
  • A communal storage unit was entered in the 800 block of Seward between 6/20 and 6/27. A bicycle was reported missing.
  • On 7/1, burglars entered a residence in the 600 block of Grove and took a computer and keys.
• Officers from Community Strategies attended a Safe Summer Fleetwood Jourdain youth event along with Special Events Committee, Homelessness Task Force and 2^nd Ward meetings. They continue to address and resolve quality-of-life issues across Evanston.

The Week Ahead

• Community Strategies (PST) officers will be present at a Safe Summer event at the Robert Crown Center on Friday, as well as the Farmers Market Saturday. They continue to monitor the lakefront, downtown Evanston and the Main-Chicago area for quality of life issues.
• Planning is in the works for an Evanston Police Department Open House in October.

Traffic News - July: Summer Safety Tips from the Traffic Bureau

It’s important to practice safe and responsible driving habits year-round. However, summer weather adds variables onto our roadways that can become hazards to a distracted driver. The influx of pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists mixing with distracted drivers is a recipe for potential serious injuries or worse. Please pay attention at all times.

First up: Heatstroke

Heatstroke can occur when a child is left unattended in a parked vehicle or gains unsupervised access. Never leave children (or pets) in a hot car— not even for a few minutes. The outdoor temperature may be in the 70s, but the temperature inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in just minutes.

Know the Facts

• A child's body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult's. When a child is left in a hot vehicle, that child's temperature can rise quickly — and they can die within minutes. 
• Heatstroke begins when the core body temperature reaches about 104 degrees. 
• A child can die when their body temperature reaches 107 degrees.
• In 2020, 25 children died of vehicular heatstroke.
• In 2018 and 2019, we saw a record number of hot car deaths —  53 children died each year — the most in at least 20 years, according to No Heat Stroke (.org).

Here’s How to Prevent Hot Car Deaths

Parents and Caregivers:

1. Never leave a child (or pet) in a vehicle unattended — even if the windows are partially open, the engine is running, and the air conditioning is on.
2. Make it a habit to check your entire vehicle — front and back — before locking the door and walking away. Train yourself to Park, Look, Lock, or always ask yourself, "Where's Baby?"
3. Ask your childcare provider to call if your child doesn’t show up for care as expected. 
4. Place a personal item like a purse or briefcase in the back seat, as another reminder to look before you lock. Write a note or place a stuffed animal in the passenger's seat to remind you that a child is in the back seat.
5. Store car keys out of a child's reach and teach children that a vehicle is not a play area.

Everyone — Including Bystanders:

1. Secure your car.
2. Always lock your car doors and trunk, year-round, so children can’t get into unattended vehicles.
3. Act fast. Save a life.
4. If you see a child alone in a locked car, get them out immediately and call 911. A child in distress due to heat should be removed from the vehicle as quickly as possible and rapidly cooled.

Results of IDOT’s Safety Campaign

The EPD joined forces with more than 200 other local law enforcement agencies from June 17 through July 6 to encourage seat belt use. The effort featured high-visibility enforcement combined with a variety of outreach activities, including a media campaign.

The enforcement period was funded by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation as part of the statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” programs.

Officers issued 81 seat belt citations during the Fourth of July campaign. Other citations included:

35    cell phones

17    lack of insurance

7      speeding

4      suspended licenses

2      failure to use child restraints

2      vehicles seized.

No one wants to be handed a traffic ticket, but it’s far worse to have an officer notify your family members that you’ve been injured or killed in a traffic crash caused by reckless or distracted driving. The Traffic Bureau’s primary goal is to educate the public and encourage safe driving habits.

Thanks to Sgt. Sophier for his Traffic News assist.

Have a question or comment for us? We’re always looking for reader input and suggestions. Just send them to Commander Garner, put In The Squad Room in the subject line and we’ll respond in a future issue.

Gun Buyback Program

The Ongoing Gun Buyback Program allows Evanston residents to turn in an operational firearm to police at any time in exchange for $100. Residents can utilize this service by calling 311 or the Evanston Police Department non-emergency line at 847-866-5000. A police officer will pick up the unwanted firearm at the resident's address and present the resident with a voucher that can be exchanged for $100 at the City Collector’s Office located in the Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave.

Firearms should not be brought to the police department, unless prior approval has been granted from a supervisor at the police department. An officer will call the resident after a request is made for the officer to come to a person's residence and retrieve the firearm.

Property Recovered in Evanston

Think your property may have been recovered by the Evanston PD? Click here to start your search. Be sure to check out the third party service that displays items found within the last 21 days. Here's the link.

Subscribe to Evanston’s Daily Crime Report by email or view the Monthly Crime Statistics that are reported on a yearly basis to the FBI. Take a look at the Evanston Police Department Dashboard.

Let us know if you have specific concerns about issues in your neighborhood. Submissions are always welcome at police@cityofevanston.org or by calling the community strategies bureau at 847-866-5019.  

If you would like to learn more about the Evanston Police Department, take an active role in community-oriented policing, and join the ranks of over 900 graduates since 1995, please visit the Citizen Police Academy webpage.  

There is no cost to anyone who lives or works in Evanston. Getting to know your police force is essential in reducing crime, building trust in the community and serving the needs of the community.

The weekly deployment report is an informational bulletin prepared by a community member that keeps citizens informed about what police do on a weekly basis. Information contained in this report is not to be considered as a media/press release. Any information considered by a media source from this bulletin needs to be verified by an official from the department. This can be done by contacting the media line at 847-866-5026.