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Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights
In this post, a community member who sits in on the Evanston Police
Department’s weekly Deployment Meeting shares notes on the topics discussed and writes about public safety matters of interest to people who work or live in Evanston.
Off the Street
 Glock 43 seized by EPD; favored by enthusiasts for its compact size. It's easy to conceal.
Around 9:45 p.m. on August 19, Evanston Police Department officers were conducting proactive patrols in the Fleetwood-Jourdain area, which has recently experienced incidents involving possible gang conflicts and firearms. They noticed several individuals appearing to smoke cannabis in or near a vehicle parked there, prompting them to initiate a street stop.
During a search of the vehicle, one of the subjects grabbed his backpack from the back seat and fled on foot. The officers immediately gave chase and apprehended him after a foot pursuit that extended several blocks. During his flight, the man discarded a Glock 43 handgun with seven 9mm rounds in the magazine, which officers later recovered.
It is usually the case that weapons offenders like this man do not have valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) cards or Concealed Carry Licenses (CCL). The State’s Attorney approved a felony count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.
Details of incidents discussed at the Deployment Meeting follow.
Weekly Crime Map
 Click to enlarge
Deployment Meeting – August 21, 2024
Battery
A man reported being punched and pistol-whipped by two individuals as he was walking in the 2000 block of Ashland on August 18. A witness and RING camera video confirmed the event. The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment. Detectives are investigating.
Bomb Threat
On August 15, a local synagogue received a threatening email demanding $80,000. The Evanston Police Department’s Intel Unit determined that the message originated from servers in Europe. Similar threats were received by Chicago-area hotels. While the threat is not considered credible, the investigation is ongoing.
Criminal Damage to Property
On August 20, officers arrested a man for retail theft. While in lockup, he decided to flood his cell with water, leading to an additional charge of criminal damage to property. He did not appear in court, and an arrest warrant has been issued.
Garage Burglary
Bicycles were the primary items stolen in three garage burglaries reported this week. According to the Crime Analyst, bike thefts from storage areas in apartment buildings appear to be on the rise:
- A Trek FX3 was stolen from an unlocked garage in the 500 block of Sheridan Square between May 15 and May 17.
- Two bikes were stolen from an unlocked garage in the 900 block of Monroe on August 14.
- A Cannondale Quick-4 bike was stolen from a secured garage of an apartment building in the 2000 block of Sherman on August 13.
Graffiti
Tagging was observed in three locations on public property during the deployment period:
- A parking paybox near the lakefront
- A street sign near Greenwood and Forest
- At Evanston Township High School (location not noted)
Motor Vehicle Burglary
On August 18, a victim reported a burglary in the Holiday Inn parking garage. An unknown offender ransacked his Kia Forte and stole a Sig Sauer P365 pistol and a lock box that was under the driver’s seat.
Motor Vehicle Theft
Three vehicles were stolen from Evanston last week, all of which were recovered, along with a 2018 Audi stolen from Des Plaines:
- A 2022 Kia Telluride was stolen from the 2700 block of Princeton on August 17 and recovered on the south side of Chicago.
- A 2016 Ford F-150 was stolen from the 2500 block of Bennett and later recovered by the owner.
- A 2023 Lincoln Navigator was stolen from the 2400 block of Harrison and recovered with minor damage to the front bumper on the south side of Chicago.
Possession of Controlled Substance
Special Operations Group (SOG) detectives were patrolling the area of Custer and Oakton when they observed a man approach a van and make what appeared to be a hand-to-hand transaction consistent with a narcotics purchase.
Detectives conducted a street stop, and a subsequent search revealed two pills containing a brown powdery substance suspected to be heroin, along with drug paraphernalia. The man, well known to police, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Residential Burglary
There was one reported burglary and one attempt, both in the early morning hours of August 20:
- A RING camera captured an offender attempting to enter through the rear door of a residence in the 200 block of McDaniel.
- A subject gained entry to an unlocked residence in the 2700 block of Prairie. A camera and equipment were reported missing. A person of interest has been identified.
Robbery
On August 19, a woman was confronted by an offender who demanded her purse near the intersection of Judson and Hamilton. Police were able to track her phone to a garbage can in the 1000 block of Sherman. Her purse was found in another nearby garbage can. Video footage of the offender has been obtained, and an Attempt to Identify Bulletin has been disseminated.
Weapons-Related Incidents & Shots Fired
- On August 20, police were called to Potbelly’s in the 600 block of Davis after an employee reported hearing a single shot coming from the men’s restroom. Responding officers found a bullet hole and a spent shell casing. There was no related altercation, and it appears it was an accidental discharge, but detectives are investigating.
- On August 18, police responded to the 1700 block of Grey for reports of three shots fired. The area was checked with negative results.
- Police were called to the 100 block of Callan on August 15 for a report of shots fired. Officers located five 9-mm bullet casings. Area residents’ security video is being reviewed.
- A caller reported hearing two shots in the 2000 block of Brown on August 14. Units responding to the scene were unable to locate any evidence.
Random Notes
The Community Police Academy is back in session!
Do you live in or work in Evanston and have an interest in learning more about the Evanston Police Department? This is the perfect opportunity. Applications are currently being accepted for the 57th Community Police Academy class that begins on September 4. Apply here.
Inquiring Minds: Who or What is an SOG Officer?
 About the Special Operations Group (SOG)
The recounting of many crime issues during deployment often includes: "SOG made this arrest," "SOG responded to this barricaded subject," and "SOG concluded an operation into massage parlors."
In police organizations, the Special Operations Group (SOG) typically refers to a specialized unit within the department that handles more complex and long-term crime issues that do not fit into the duties of traditional detectives or regular patrol officers. Members of the SOG are usually highly trained in tactics, firearms, and specialized equipment, allowing them to respond effectively to complex and dangerous situations.
The specific responsibilities and structure of an SOG can vary depending on the size and needs of the police department or agency. In Evanston, the 11-member SOG task force is involved in activities such as:
- Gangs and narcotics
- Warrant service
- Tactical responses to high-risk incidents
- Surveillance and intelligence gathering
- Undercover operations
- Assisting task forces and detectives with major crimes
- Assembling ad hoc multi-agency missions to shared crime problems
- Investigating unusual crimes, such as determining whether a sex worker is an offender or a victim of sex trafficking during a massage parlor investigation.
PLEASE SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS. Thanks to our readers for the great questions. Please continue to send us your inquiries here —we promise to answer any and all in a future issue. Comments and suggestions are appreciated too.
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.
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