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Weekly Deployment Meeting Highlights

In the Squad Room - Death of a Pedestrian

Every week, Linda Hansen attends the Evanston Police Department’s Deployment Meetings, takes notes on various topics and writes about other police-related matters of interest to ordinary citizens like her. 

Howard Street from Ridge to Elmwood was closed for a period of time on 1/3 when the EPD was called to a crash involving a pedestrian at 7 AM. The EPD’s Traffic Bureau along with the Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) are investigating a crash that occurred when a vehicle struck Antoine Jones, 27 years of age, who according to reports laid down on the roadway just prior to the incident.  Jones was transported to Presence/St. Francis Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Investigators were able to interview the driver of the vehicle who remained on the scene.  No charges are expected. 

This week, the deployment meeting covered a two-week period, since last week’s meeting was cancelled.  Even so, the trend we’d seen in prior weeks – a low incidence of crime – continued.  In a quick conversation we had after the meeting, Crime Analyst Ring mentioned that package thefts, for example, have shown a significant decline.  She suggested that media attention on the issue might have had a positive impact.

Notable, however, were four vehicle thefts.  Three of them were taken by unknown means from streets in south Evanston between 12/20 and 12/23.   The fourth was stolen, using keys, from a driveway on Central Park Avenue and reported to the EPD on 12/20.  

Now the rest of the news.  

Deployment Meeting – January 3, 2018

Past Week:

• Shots Fired calls were received between 12/25 and 12/30 concerning locations in the 700 block of Seward, the 2000 block of Harrison and the 2000 block of Brown. All areas were checked with no evidence found.
• In a related incident, police responded to a Shots Fired call in the 1700 block of McDaniel on 12/27.  Officers located two vehicles in the alley.   One vehicle left when the officers pulled up, but the officers stopped the vehicle on Emerson.  The driver, Montez Waters, was charged with DUI and Possession of Ammunition without a Valid FOID Card after open alcohol and one unspent 9mm round and one spent 9mm shell casing was recovered.  No handgun was located.
• More vehicle break-ins, all from unlocked vehicles.  12/20 in the 500 block of Sherman: a photo ID stolen. 12/21 in the 700 block of South Boulevard: Nothing taken. 12/20 in the 2300 block of Central Park: a purse, wallet and a bag taken. 12/21 in the 900 block of Dobson: Gifts cards missing. 12/23 in the 700 block of Case: unsecured cash.
• On the beat: On 12/27, PST Officers Arzuaga and Wozniak met with Evanston Public Library staff to discuss safety and lockdown procedures.  On New Years Eve, PST officers rang in the New Year with celebrants at First Night Evanston downtown.
• There were two residential burglaries, both on Callan. On 12/21, a pry tool was used to break into a residence in the 600 block of Callan.  Jewelry, a computer and other items were taken.  On 12/26, burglars entered a home in the 300 block by breaking the glass in a rear door but it doesn’t appear that anything was missing.
• The IDOT “Click It or Ticket: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Campaign results: 109 citations and 1 DUI.
• On 1/1 EPD was called to a domestic dispute in the 700 block of Howard.  Jerell Williams reportedly battered the victim and was attempting to gain entry into a residence by bashing a fire extinguisher against the door.  When the officers arrived, Williams punched an officer in the face and was taken into custody without further incident.  He was charged with felony Aggravated Battery.
• According to Communications Coordinator Kuempel, there were three  Text-a-Tips during the period, with tipsters reporting suspicious, possibly drug-related activity.

Looking Ahead:·

• PST will attend the West End Block Club meeting and a Police Appreciation Celebration at the Merion on 1/9. They will continue to focus on Beats 77 and 78 (Fifth Ward and Howard Street) in addition to addressing homeless complaints.
• The Armored Car is garaged and will be back on the streets when the temperatures reach the double digits.

Inquiring Minds: I love questions that give me a reason to call Animal Warden David Rose. So here it is:  Is there an ordinance against feeding pigeons?  I have heard people say that pigeons are essentially rats with wings. But before we get to Warden Rose’s answer, here are some fun facts about pigeons: They belong to the same family of birds as doves – Columbidae. There are 310 known species. Some species of Columbidae are as large as turkeys. Ornithologists identify them by species, but categorizing them as pigeons or doves is problematic. Most of us distinguish them this way: pigeons are urban pests that beg for food and worse.  Doves are their lovely, wild and better-behaved cousins that live in the country. The fact is, you can choose whatever descriptor you like.  Why do the birds we see routinely around here like urban areas?: More food and fewer predators. And saving the best for last: The Dodo was actually a species of Columbidae. Now, Warden Rose’s answer: “There is an ordinance and here’s what it states:  8-3-8-2. - GROUND FEEDING PROHIBITED. All feed must be placed within an approved container, receptacle or feeder designed for the feeding of wild/feral mammals and/or birds as defined in this Section 8-3-8.  This ordinance is mostly applied to homeowners not using the proper receptacles when feeding wild birds.  This has become a growing issue over the past few years in the wake of an increase in the rodent population.  The ordinance can be enforced, but it’s very difficult to catch individuals in the act when they’re feeding wildlife – pigeons, in this case - in public spaces.”

Please keep your questions coming.  Send them to Commander Joe Dugan and we’ll do our best to get you the answers. If you put In The Squad Room in the subject line, they’ll find their way to me.

The ON-GOING 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.

What would you like to know about what the Evanston Police Department is doing to fight crime? Let us know if you have specific questions or 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’d like to receive Evanston’s Daily Crime Report by email, you can subscribe here or view the Monthly Crime Statistics that are reported on a yearly basis to the FBI by clicking here.

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.