Thursday, January 15, 2026 | View in browser
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.
Out of An Abundance of Caution
"Unknown substances" are never good news.
Around 10:00 a.m. on Jan. 2, 911 dispatchers received a call about an unresponsive subject in the 1400 block of Chicago Ave. The female, initially thought to be suffering from an overdose, was transported to St. Francis Hospital.
Officers left the scene but were asked to return a few minutes later when a suspicious substance was found near where the subject was located, requiring a different hazmat response to the call.
Here’s what to know about hazmat protocols: Officers control access to the area and avoid direct contact with the substance. Teams trained to identify and handle suspect or hazardous substances process the scene. Personal protective equipment (masks, gloves, or respirators) is typically required. Officers note physical characteristics, document the scene, and prepare the material for analysis.
Evacuation and shelter-in-place procedures are common until the substance is identified and safely contained. In keeping with the protocol, Chicago Ave. was closed for two hours. The fire department was able to determine the substance wasn’t a toxin. The substance, most likely narcotics, was submitted to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab for analysis and the subject recovered. Evanston residents, protected by cautious first responders, were safe.
Details of the week’s additional incidents covered in the Deployment presentation follow. And if you are curious about what happened while we were on hiatus, check out Inquiring Minds.
Details of the incidents covered in the Deployment Meeting follow.
Weekly Crime Map
 Click to enlarge
Meeting Notes – January 7, 2026
Commercial Burglary – On Jan. 6, police were called to a business in the 500 block of Howard for a premise check. They observed that a window had been broken to force entry. A Special Watch was issued on the address and security video is being pursued.
Criminal Damage to Property
- On Jan. 4, a bullet hole was observed in the foyer window of a residence in the 100 block of Clyde.
- Maybe the motorist lost the ticket or just didn’t want to pay. Whatever the reason, the exit gate of a downtown parking garage was damaged between Jan. 2 and Jan. 3.
Deceptive Practice
- Oh no! Another Evanston senior was bilked out of $45,000 by a caller who instructed her to withdraw two sums from her account and transfer them to external accounts. She told police that “JP Morgan Bank” appeared on her Caller ID.
- Phony Funeral Donation Seekers strike again. But this time they were foiled when, on Jan. 4 at the Valli’s parking lot in the 100 block of Dempster, a victim froze her account after handing her credit card to three grifters. Officers arrived on the scene but the trio had taken off.
Graffiti – On Dec. 30, graffiti (no information on messaging or images) was seen on a viaduct wall in the 600 block of Mulford.
Package Theft – Credit and debit cards were taken from a package in the 1900 block of Sherman between Dec. 31 and Jan. 6.
Vehicle Burglary
- Two construction vehicles parked in the 2000 block of Lincoln were damaged in the 2000 block of Lincoln on Jan. 2. Windows were broken to remove checkbooks, gas cards, keys, medications, and a lunchbox.
- On Jan. 2, a laptop and AirPods were reported missing from an unsecured 2025 Toyota in the 2100 block of Green Bay.
- Between Dec. 28 and Dec. 31, a GPS was removed from an unsecured Toyota in the 800 block of Lee.
Vehicle Theft – On Jan. 4, a female reported her 2015 Dodge Caravan missing from the 1800 block of Hovland. A family member is suspected of taking the vehicle without permission.
Weapons Related
Person with a Knife
- On Jan. 1, officers were able to retrieve a knife from a male suffering a panic attack in the 1700 block of Sherman. He was taken to Evanston Hospital for an evaluation.
- The same day, officers responded to Oakton and Asbury for the report of a man threatening suicide. The subject was observed holding a knife to his throat. Police were able to calm the man and transport him to St. Francis Hospital for evaluation.
Shots Fired
- On Jan. 3, EPD received a call of shots fired in the 800 block of Chicago. The area was checked with negative results.
- On Jan. 1, officers responded to the 2300 block of Nathaniel Place for a report of multiple shots fired. No evidence was recovered at the scene.
Random Notes
- Here are the results of the Holiday Traffic Campaign: 190 citations were issued. The top three? #1 - occupant restraint citations, #2 - speeding, and #3- electronic device citations. The good news: just one citation for impaired driving.
- The next City Beat meeting is scheduled for Jan. 21 at EFD headquarters, 909 Lake St. The meeting starts at 6 p.m.
- NEWS YOU CAN USE: If you didn’t read the Jan. 7 EPD Bulletin on how to avoid being a victim of pickpockets, you can find it here.
- Please read the City of Evanston’s policy on responding to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in Evanston.
Inquiring Minds: While We Were Out
The party's over
First of all, Happy New Year. For those of you who don’t like to miss an episode, here’s a very brief summary of what happened the last two weeks of 2025, courtesy of the Crime Analyst and me. This is the polar opposite of Breaking News.
December 22 - 30 Let’s just say it was a busy week.
Click here for the Crime Map
Aggravated Assault – On Dec. 26, a man with a knife threatened another Purple Line passenger. He was taken into custody and arrested.
Aggravated Battery to Police Officer – On Dec. 30, police were called to St. Francis Hospital when a patient refused discharge and attacked an officer.
Residential
On Dec. 30, a resident notified police that his residence in the 400 block of Wesley had been burglarized. A safe, jewelry, house keys, and a handgun were missing.
Motor Vehicle (Most of these vehicles were unsecured.)
- On Dec. 28, a vehicle (no model information) in the 800 block of Noyes.
- On Dec. 27, a vehicle (no model information) in the 700 block of Mulford, a 2020 GMC Yukon in the 1500 block of Sherman and a 2015 Ford Transit in the 400 block of Sherman.
- Reported on Dec. 26, two vehicles (no model information) from the 2500 block of Cowper, one vehicle (no model information) from the 2500 block of Hastings, and a 2014 Chrysler Town and Country from the 2500 block of Prospect.
Graffiti – Antisemitic graffiti was located near the Maple side entrance of the Davis Metra station on Dec. 30. Written in black paint was the Nazi "SS" symbol and swastika.
Person with a Gun - Police received a call on Dec. 26 where the caller was heard to say, “Get that gun away from me,” before disconnecting. Officers were unable to find the caller and nothing was located in the 800 block of Elmwood, where the call originated.
Shots Fired
- On Dec. 27, near Mulford and Callan. Fireworks located.
- On Dec. 25, report of a shot fired through the window of a home in the 900 block of Ashland. Officers located a rock at the scene.
- On Dec. 25, a caller reported three shots heard in the 1000 block of Darrow. Nothing was located.
Vehicle Theft
- Attempt: On Dec. 28, a caller told police that he was confronted by three armed individuals attempting to steal a Camaro in the 800 block of Brummel.
- On Dec. 27 two stolen vehicles were recovered by EPD: a 2023 Camry from the 400 block of Sherman with the thief sleeping inside and a 2019 Nissan Altima from the 1500 block of Darrow.
December 16 – December 21
Click here for the Crime Map
Deceptive Practices - On Dec. 19, four men were arrested for tap-to-pay scams in the downtown area.
Battery
An Uber driver was attacked by an intoxicated passenger on Dec. 20.
Domestic Battery
On Dec. 19, a man was charged with multiple misdemeanors for assaulting a romantic partner. A physical altercation between family members on Dec. 18. One man charged.
Vehicle-Related
Burglaries
- Vehicle in the 1600 block of Central.
- Vehicle in the 1900 block of Brown
- Vehicle in the 500 block of South Blvd.
Thefts
- Between Dec. 16 and Dec. 17, a 2018 Acura from the 2100 block of Keeney.
- Between Dec. 16 and Dec. 17, a 2025 Honda CRV from the 700 block of Monroe.
Weapons Related
Shots Fired
- Dec. 21 in the 2300 block of Lawndale. Nothing located.
- Dec. 20 in the 600 block of Hinman. Nothing found.
- Dec. 19 near Washington & Brown. Nothing found
Person Shot
- On Dec. 20, a family dispute resulted in a shooting. The victim was taken to the hospital for non-threatening injuries. The assailant was taken into custody.
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.
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