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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.

For the Love of Mike

Jordan, that is

This was a popular expression a long, long time ago in the days before cursing became part of everyday conversation. It’s an expression of surprise or, in some cases, exasperation. In this week’s lead, it helps to explain how possession of a pair of Nike Air Jordans led to a felony count of aggravated battery to a police officer. Here’s what happened:

On April 13, a man’s landlord alerted him that there were two subjects inside his 2004 Honda that was parked, and unlocked, in the rear of his residence in the 2000 block of Emerson. When the Honda’s owner confronted the male and female, a physical fight broke out, with the offending male fleeing the scene. Right away, the man noticed that his Nike Air Jordans were missing.

Officers at the scene were able to identify and locate the female, who, since the victim didn’t wish to pursue charges, was released. Police were able to apprehend the male offender a short time later, already wearing the victim’s Air Jordans. A short foot pursuit resulted in apprehending the man, who was taken into custody. Already facing one felony count of burglary to a motor vehicle, he added another felony count of aggravated battery to a police officer when he spat (not just at but) on a police officer.

The headline this week? Catalytic converter thefts. Other incidents covered at the meeting follow.

Weekly Crime Map

Click to enlarge

Deployment Presentation – April 16, 2025 

Arrest

Active Warrants

• A man wanted on an active warrant out of Will County turned himself in to police on April 13.
• On April 9, a man facing multiple charges for a residential burglary that took place in the 700 block of Case on Dec. 14 turned himself in to EPD detectives.

Drug Arrests

• On April 16, around 3 a.m., a tip from a neighbor led cops to the 400 block of Howard. There, an intimately engaged couple were caught with drugs and drug paraphernalia. 
• On April 10, a routine traffic stop resulted in the arrest of a female for possession of controlled substances and various traffic offenses. Driving around somewhat aimlessly in the wee hours, she told cops she was trying to find Wisconsin Dells.

Fleeing and Eluding/Criminal Damage to Government Property— On April 9, a man failing to yield to a traffic stop near Ashland and Simpson and then ramming an EPD squad car was arrested in Skokie. The subject has a significant criminal history and is known to carry firearms.

Burglary

Garage Burglary—A resident reported his vintage Schwinn Del-Mar cruiser stolen from his garage between April 14 and April 15 in the 1200 block of Dewey. The bike’s owner has submitted photos of the Schwinn to police.

Motor Vehicle Burglary

All to unlocked vehicles:

• Between April 11 and April 15 in the 2000 block of Grant. The vehicle was ransacked.
• A 2004 Honda in the 2000 block of Emerson on April 13. (See Feature Story)
• Between April 12 and April 13, a wallet was reported missing.
• Between April 4 and April 6, a purse was reported missing from a vehicle in the 2600 block of Payne.

Residential Burglary—The front door of a residence in the 1400 block of Emerson was reported damaged on April 14. It doesn’t appear that anything was taken.

Catalytic Converter Theft—Spring has officially sprung with 6 reported incidents during the deployment period:

• A vehicle (no year or model noted) in the 100 block of Keeney on April 16. Responding units observed a black sedan fleeing at a high rate of speed. SPD (Skokie Police Department) is assisting with evidence collection.
• A 2009 Honda on April 11 in the 600 block of Hinman 
• A Hyundai Santa Fe on April 11 in the 1300 block of Maple
• A 2007 Toyota Sienna between April 6 and April 11 near Crain and Oak
• Between April 10 and April 11, a 2003 Honda Pilot in the 900 block of Crain.
• A 2005 Toyota Sienna between April 10 and April 11 in the 1500 block of Hinman

Domestic Disturbance

• On April 10, a female broke into an ex-partner’s residence. A struggle resulted in accidental injuries to the woman. She faces criminal trespass to residence charges.
• Custody issues between former partners resulted in police response on April 13. Police had been called to the location several times for similar incidents in the recent past.

Graffiti—On April 14, NUPD was made aware of large spray-painted messages on two campus buildings. Their investigations suggested an organized crew of 7 or more vandals defacing university property around 4 a.m.

Motor Vehicle Theft

Recovered – A Kia Soul was reported missing from the 1200 block of Darrow by its owner. Flock cameras captured the vehicle at Chicago and Howard; the car was located later on the same day in Chicago.

Theft

• A Flock hit led to the recovery of a Nissan Altima and the arrests of two individuals in the 7300 block of Hoyne (Rogers Park) on April 15.
• On April 14, a Kia Soul stolen out of Chicago was tracked, via AirTag, by its owner to an address in the 1200 block of Darrow.
• The owner of a Chevrolet SS reported it stolen from his driveway in the 1200 block of Forest on April 10. Responding officers noted broken glass on the pavement.
• A truck rented by a U-Haul customer on April 8 has not been returned. The truck has Arizona plates and has been entered into the LEADS system.

Package Theft—Just one package containing household goods was reported on April 12 in the 1400 block of Darrow.

Suspicious Circumstances—On April 14, a caller from the 1000 block of Greenwood reported an unknown male subject yelling homophobic slurs at a pride flag on the property. The caller reported seeing the subject in the area on previous occasions yelling at inanimate objects.

Weapons Related

Person with a Gun—On April 9, EPD was alerted to an incident at Wing Stop in the 2400 block of Main. According to witnesses at the scene, two subjects armed with firearms were fighting inside the premises. By the time cops arrived, the perps had fled the scene.

Random Notes

• We regret that last week’s INSIDER came out a couple of days late. While the note taker has scheduled writing time every week, the post’s editor is EPD’s chief information officer. Law enforcement eclipses journalism.
• NICRL (Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime Laboratory) ballistics results have tied two guns recovered during arrests to previous shots-fired calls.
• Evanston’s Farmers’ Market is scheduled to open on Saturday, May 5! Parking is free with validation at the 1800 Maple Street Parking Garage. (Please remember to leave your pooch at home; only service animals are allowed.)

Send us your questions. What would you like to know? We’ll respond with an answer in the next issue or two. Comments and suggestions are welcome too. Contact us here.

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.