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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.

Attempted Murder

Shell casings at the scene

EPD received several calls for shots fired in the area of Greenwood and Fowler on May 3 around 8 p.m. On arrival, responding units met with two victims who advised they were inside a vehicle when a man, one of the victim’s relatives, fired multiple rounds at the vehicle. Officers noted visible damage to the vehicle and were able to recover five shell casings in the parkway. According to the victims, the incident stemmed from an earlier argument. 

EPD’s SRT (Special Response Team) set up a perimeter around the residence, which eventually resulted in the shooter exiting and surrendering. The EPD Detective Bureau conducted the investigation, which included the execution of a search warrant on the residence. Cook County Felony Review approved two counts of attempted murder for the offender.

Readers of INSIDER may wonder what elevated this incident from UUW (unlawful use of a weapon) to attempted murder. Here’s Executive Commander Glew with the answer: 

Unlawful Use of a Weapon was typically only possession, which is why the law has changed from UUW to UPW, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. An attempted murder with a handgun involves firing a gun at someone with the intent of hitting them and therefore reasonably understanding they could be killed. A lesser charge, aggravated discharge, is firing in the direction of the victim with lesser intent. 

In another demonstration of wrong turns comes this item: Around 5:30 in the afternoon on May 7, police were called to intercede in a physical confrontation between adult females near Fleetwood-Jourdain. Some of the combatants escaped, but one of them remained and was observed by cops trying to kick in the window of a vehicle with a victim inside. The offender ignored police demands and struck one of the officers in the head before being restrained and taken into police custody. She was charged with misdemeanor battery to a police officer.

Other incidents follow.

Weekly Crime Map

Click to enlarge

Deployment Presentation – May 7, 2025 

Bike Theft—There were two this week:

• Unsecured on May 6 from the 700 block of Main.
• Between May 5 and May 6, an unsecured bike in the 2200 block of Ridge. 

Criminal Trespass—On May 3 around 11 p.m., officers responded to a call of a person banging on the apartment door of an ex-girlfriend’s residence in the 900 block of Judson. The man attempted to flee from the cops but was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit and was charged with felony criminal trespass.

Garage Burglaries

This is where the action was last week. Five of them:

• Between May 5 and May 6 in the 2100 block of Ridge, a bicycle taken.
• On May 1, around 8:00 p.m., two in the 2400 block of Bradley: an attempt and a successful entry to remove a bicycle.
• On May 1 in the 2100 block of Dobson, a bike from an unlocked garage.
• Between Apr. 28 and May 1, a Ring camera from an unlocked garage.

Graffiti—Observed on park benches in the 1900 block of Simpson. (Nature of graffiti or message not reported.) 

Hit & Run – ARREST – Last week, we reported a hit & run incident in which a driver struck an elderly female around 2:00 p.m. at a crosswalk near Grove and Chicago. EPD officers were able to review video in the area and identify the offending vehicle and then the driver. She was charged with felony leaving the scene of an accident and other traffic-related misdemeanors.

Motor Vehicle Theft

The owner of a 2003 Honda S2000 convertible reported it missing from the 2500 block of Lincolnwood on May 1.

Package Theft

• On May 2, a package was taken from a residence in the 2200 block of Ridge.
• On May 1, a package was taken from the 1900 block of Jackson.

Warrant Arrests

• An individual charged with the Apr. 7 burglary of an Evanston nail salon was arrested for an active burglary warrant out of Cook County on May 5.
• On May 3, a subject wanted for a retail theft was taken into custody in the 7400 block of Paulina.
• Also on May 3, SOG (Special Operations Group) detectives observed a known individual wanted for multiple retail thefts. He was taken into custody without incident in the 1900 block of Howard.

Weapons Related

• Assist Outside Agency—Around 9:15 on May 4, EPD officers assisted CPD with a shot-fired incident on Juneway and Ashland in Rogers Park (24th District). A female inside a vehicle suffered a graze wound and was transported to St. Francis Hospital.
• Person with a Gun—An anonymous caller reported being confronted by a male brandishing a weapon. Officers at the scene were unable to find any evidence.
• Shots Fired—Five shots were reported by a caller in the 1700 block of Lee. Witnesses in the area did not report hearing shots; evidence in the form of bullets or shell casings was not found.

Random Notes

• There were no catalytic converter thefts reported for the deployment period.
• More senior scams: A 67-year-old victim fell prey to fraudulent callers claiming to represent Fifth Third Bank. Chase is attempting to assist her in recovering the $6300 she lost. The Crime Analyst reported that financial crimes increased 25% between 2023 and 2024.
• Listen up, cyclists! Be mindful of downtown and other business districts (watch for the signs) in Evanston, where riding bikes on sidewalks is not allowed. One scofflaw received a citation last week, and it won’t be the last. 

Inquiring Minds: Charging Options for Homicide

Movie murderer turned TV cop turned real life accused murderer, Robert Blake

“Even though homicides are rare here, I’m wondering what the charging options are and how they’re different.” 

First of all, the questioner is correct. Evanston had one homicide in 2023 and none in 2024. That trend has continued this year.

CG: “All homicides are felonies. First-degree murder is the most serious charge and carries a sentence of 20 years to life. In this case, the defendant had no legal justification to kill the victim and did so intending to kill or do great bodily harm, knowing that the act had a strong possibility to do so, or that the murder happened in the commission of another felony. For instance, a rape or robbery could occur.

So an example might be a gang-related homicide?

CG: That’s right. Second-degree murder is next in line, and it’s called manslaughter in some states. Here, the sentence can include a $25,000 fine and 4–20 years in prison. The difference in this case is that mitigating circumstances are considered. Was it an act of passion? Did the offender believe that the killing was justified?

What about someone either driving recklessly or drunk that results in a victim’s death?

CG: That is reckless homicide or involuntary manslaughter. In Illinois, someone convicted in a DUI involving the death of one victim can be fined up to $25,000 and sentenced to 3-4 years in the penitentiary. If more than one person was killed, the sentence can be as long as eight years.”

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.