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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.

Accurate Assessment: "Looks Like Jail"

That's what it looks like, all right.

On July 3 around 5:50 a.m., officers were dispatched to check the well-being of a driver asleep behind the wheel of a vehicle near Oakton and Ridge. There they located a man in the driver’s seat, fast asleep, with likely cannabis packages in plain view scattered about the inside of his vehicle.

The man responded to officers who opened his door and asked him to step out of the vehicle. He said that he was on his way home and just fell asleep. He agreed to a standard field sobriety test, but before that happened, he consented to an officer safety pat-down, at which time officers discovered a rubber-banded pack of small, powder-filled red plastic Ziploc-style baggies.

When asked about the baggies, the subject told the officers that they “look like jail” and placed his hands behind his back.

He was taken into custody and transported to EPD for processing, where 35 baggies of suspected narcotics were recovered. He was charged with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, DUI, and several traffic citations.

Every Fourth of July period is a busy one at EPD. Last week, for example, the department received over 125 calls related to fireworks. While there weren’t any major incidents associated with celebrations here, there was a significant increase in assaults between known persons. These incidents and others discussed at the Deployment Meeting follow.

Other incidents discussed at the meeting follow.

Weekly Crime Map

Click to enlarge

Deployment Presentation – July 9, 2025 

Arrest - An individual was taken into custody for a shots fired incident that occurred on May 12. He has been charged with one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm. 

Aggravated Assault

On July 5 around 5:30 p.m., a man was arrested at Valli Produce after he knocked over a pizza display, battered two employees, and threatened EPD personnel when they were attempting to process him in lockup. Eventually he was processed and escorted out of the building. He began to walk away but then changed his mind and resumed his tirade, heading back toward EPD headquarters at 1454 Elmwood and threatening an officer. He was escorted back to the lockup, charged with aggravated assault, and held for court.

Aggravated Battery

On July 3, officers arrested a man for assault at Walgreens. He gave them several false names, but officers were able to identify him as a man with an active warrant. While in custody, he made suicidal statements and expressed an impulse to hurt the officers. He was transported to Evanston Hospital for an evaluation, where he became more uncooperative, combative, and resistant to their commands, ultimately kicking one of them. He was charged with aggravated battery to a police officer.

Bike Theft

Just two reported at these locations this week:

• 1700 block of Orrington
• 700 block of Chicago 

Burglary

Motor Vehicle

There were 5 break-ins (3 of them to unlocked vehicles) at these locations:

• On July 7, in the 2400 block of Main. Numerous items, including a credit card later used in Chicago, were taken. Also on July 7, two vehicles in the 800 block of Brummel were ransacked; the other reporting multiple credit cards and a driver’s license taken.
• A caller reported an unknown subject trying her vehicle’s door handle in the 900 block of Sherman on July 6.
• On July 2, coins and a driver’s license were removed from a vehicle in the 1700 block of Hovland.

Criminal Damage to Property - On July 6, a caller contacted the police to report that she observed bullet holes in a gutter and a bullet lodged in the fence of her property in the 1400 block of Fowler. Evidence Technicians arrived at the scene. Police believe the evidence is related to a known crime that occurred in the area on May 3.

Domestic Battery

• A female contacted EPD on July 6 to report that during a custody exchange with her child’s father, he attempted to strangle and punch her in the presence of their child. Victim Services is assisting her.
• On July 4 around 1:00 a.m., police responded to a report of an assault between family members. The purported assailant denied the charge, but the victim had visible injuries. The offender was charged with domestic battery.
• Around 11 p.m. on July 4, police were called to a residence. A female reported that her ex-husband had slapped and strangled her. Her visible injuries confirmed it. The suspect was gone. Charges may be pending.
• On July 2, police responded to the intersection of Chicago and Dempster around 5 p.m. A woman in the roadway was upset and crying, telling officers that her partner had battered her, thrown her from a vehicle, and driven off with their two small children in the car. The woman refused medical services. At this writing, CPD confirmed the well-being of the children. DCFS has been informed. 

Fleeing and Eluding – On July 2, detectives attempted a traffic stop of a Chevy Malibu without license plates in the 1700 block of Dodge. The driver made his escape by driving through a residential yard. Units called to the area were able to locate the unoccupied stolen vehicle, but not the driver, in the 1800 block of Brown.

Graffiti – It was observed at these locations, all on July 7, during the last week:

• 1600 block of Sherman
• Sherman & Grove
• 1900 block of Grant
• 1100 block of Lincoln
• Orrington & Church
• 1600 block of Orrington

No information at this time on the nature or locations (public or private) of the graffiti.

Motor Vehicle Theft

Recovered – A stolen Nissan SUV was recovered on July 3, following an accident in which the alleged thief struck a parked vehicle in the 1700 block of Main. A person of interest has been identified.

Stolen - A Dodge Charger was reported stolen from the 700 block of Howard on July 6. The owner stated that his Beretta 9mm handgun was inside the vehicle.

Sex Offense – On July 3, a 19-year-old male was groped in the restroom of the Aldi store in the 2200 block of Oakton. The victim was able to provide responding officers with a good description of the offender, but he was gone by the time they arrived.

Weapons Related

Person with a Gun

• Officers responded to the YMCA on July 7 for a report of an intruder firing a gun inside the premises. Officers conducted a walkthrough of the building and spoke with individuals who did not corroborate the report but did state that around the time of the call, there was a loud verbal dispute.

Shots Fired

• A citizen reported hearing 4 or 5 gunshots toward the beach in the 600 block of Clark on July 8. The area was checked with negative results.
• On July 7, police responded to a call of gunshots in the 2400 block of Sheridan. Officers reported hearing fireworks in the area.
• Officers patrolling the Howard and Custer area heard four gunshots north of the location on July 6. They were unable to locate any shells or bullet casings.
• A caller advised being awakened by the sound of gunshots around 12:30 a.m. in the 1100 block of Dobson on July 5. The next morning, he located spent shell casings in the alley and called 911.

Unlawful Possession of a Weapon - Reckless driving led to the arrest of a man around 4 a.m. on July 2 in the 800 block of Davis. A search of his person revealed a loaded AMT .380 caliber handgun and a quantity of cocaine. He was charged with felony DUI, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon in a vehicle, no FOID or CCL card, possession of a controlled substance, and traffic violations.

Random Notes

• Yet another Evanston female, and probably an elderly one, has been bilked of a large sum of money by scammers. On July 7, a victim reported that she received a call from HSBC Bank stating that her account was attached to an international child trafficking case and her visa status was in jeopardy. In order to cure the problem, she sent the scammers $200,000 in wire transfers before they cut off contact with her.
• Fourth of July festivities may be over, but Jamaica Day (Sunday, Aug. 4 in James Park) and National Night Out (Tuesday, Aug. 6 in Centennial Park) are free events to keep the good times rolling.

Inquiring Minds: Loud Mufflers

Are there any "Quiet Zones" in Evanston we used to see on streets that ran by hospitals, schools, etc.? What statute or ordinance is violated (if any) for disturbing the community in this way, and are they ever enforced?”

First, let’s look at the Illinois code for loud mufflers. 625 ILCS 5/12-602 addresses this issue and states that muffler and exhaust systems must be properly maintained and that no one is allowed to modify the exhaust system to amplify it the way my gearhead brother did in the 1960s. In practical terms, this means that the police may stop a vehicle that sounds like a hot rod, but citations are at the officer’s discretion. If it appears to be a mechanical issue, the motorist will be advised to get it fixed. 

Referring to Evanston’s Municipal Codes for the second question: Section (1) in the 9.5-20 Noises Prohibited ordinance disallows excessive noise in the vicinity of schools, churches, courts, or hospitals - while any are in use - provided signs are present. Since Evanston doesn’t have Quiet Zone signs posted, no citations can be given beyond the Illinois statute. In other words, motorists cannot be ticketed for failure to be extra quiet.

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.