Thursday, May 31, 2018

Crime News Update

Editor's note: The crime news reported by the Southwest Chicago Post---taken directly from Chicago Police Department incident reports---is not by any means an exhaustive catalogue of all crime reported in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District. For example, it typically does not include news of crimes committed in the eastern and southern sectors of the district---because the Southwest Chicago Post's coverage area is primarily the neighborhoods that border Midway Airport and secondarily because including the relatively large volume of crime news from elsewhere in the district would be a logistical challenge. We make this note to offer a little helpful perspective and remind everyone that while crime is definitely a concern in all parts of the district (as it always has been), crime remains relatively low overall in the western section of the district. May all of us work together diligently to keep it that way. May all of us also remember that a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Driving his car, shot in the ear
A 37-year-old Chicago Lawn man suffered a graze wound to his ear after two other men shot at him in the 4100 block of West 47th Street at 6:03 a.m. Friday. May 25. The victim was in his car and had just dropped someone off in an alley, he told police. The shooter was one of two men in a black SUV, the victim told police. The victim refused medical treatment. No one is in custody. One of the two men was described as a Hispanic man age 20-30, about 5-foot-11 with short black hair and a black goatee. Police recovered numerous shell casings at the scene, as well as a black mask.

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Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beats 815 or 821 (see map), come to St. Bruno School (south entrance) 4839 S. Harding, at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 6 and attend your monthly CAPS meeting. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.


Cellphone store on Kedzie is robbed
Three hooded thugs robbed the T Mobile store at 4612 S. Kedzie at knifepoint, making off with four cellphones. The crime occurred at 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, May 22. The victim, a 31-year-old clerk, told police that when he saw the hooded men arrive at the store, he met them at the door to explain that they must remove their hoods. One of them pulled a knife and said, “Shut the f~ck up, or I’ll cut you.” The robbers then took the phones and ran away south on Kedzie and east down 47th Street. They were described as black men age 18-20, all about 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds, wearing black and blue clothing.



Bust five riding in car reported stolen
Five people were arrested after police reportedly found them sitting in a stolen Toyota
Ryan Thomas
Camry in front of 8145 S. Pulaski at about 7:45 p.m. Saturday, May 19.


Charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, as well as driving without a license, was Ryan Colby Thomas, 18, of the 5300 block of South Justine.

Charged with criminal trespass to a motor vehicle were Curtis Cade, 20, of the 4300 block of West 83rd Street; Andrew Brazzle, 24, of the 9100 block of South Bishop; Dorian Hardy, 18, of the 3500 block of West 80th Street; and Faithe McKinney, 18, of the 5300 block of South Justine.

Thomas appeared in bond court on May 20. The others are set to appear in court on June 11.
Curtis Cade
Andrew Brazzle
Dorian Hardy
Faithe McKinney

Claim Little Village man smashed windshield with knife
A 26-year-old Little Village man was charged with aggravated assault and criminal damage
Ernest Martinez
to property after he allegedly used a knife to smash the windshield of a vehicle.


Ernest H. Martinez, of the 2200 block of South Christiana, was arrested by police at 6248 S. Central at 10:16 p.m. Monday, May 21.

He also was charged with battery and aggravated assault of a peace officer after he allegedly hit a police officer while riding in a CFD ambulance on his way to Holy Cross Hospital.

He is due in court at 51st and Wentworth on July 6.


Arrest Clearing woman for alleged battery
Marta Klimas

A 36-year-old Clearing woman was charged with misdemeanor battery after she allegedly hit a man in an incident that reportedly occurred in the 6200 block of South Massasoit shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 23.

Marta H. Klimas, of the 6000 block of South Central, was apprehended by police responding a “battery in progress” call.

Police did not disclose the age of the man.






Bust Curie High School student for aggravated assault

An 18-year-old West Englewood woman was charged with aggravated assault after she
Kaija Udell
allegedly threatened a security officer inside Curie High School at 10:40 a.m. Thursday, May 17.


Kaija Udell, of the 2100 block of West 71st Place, “discovered her younger brother was in the dean of students' office for a disturbance,” police said.

CPS security reportedly advised her to go back to class and leave the hallway, which is when she allegedly made a threat.

Police did not elaborate on the nature of the threat.




West Sider charged with breaking CTA bus door glass
Dakota Joy

A 23-year-old West Side man was charged with one misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property after he allegedly kicked and cracked the glass on a CTA bus door in front of 5035 S. Cicero at about 7:50 p.m. Tuesday, May 22.

Dakota William Joy, of the 700 block of North Homan, was reportedly a passenger on the bus and was arguing with another passenger, police said.

He was arrested at 8:01 p.m.




Cocaine found on Garfield Ridge woman, police say
Jordan Marek


A 25-year-old Garfield Ridge woman was charged with one count of felony possession of a controlled substance after police stopped her vehicle for making an illegal U-turn near 56th and Central at 9:10 p.m. Wednesday, May 23.


Jordan M. Marek, of the 5400 block of South Laramie, was found to be in possession of cocaine, according to police.





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Bust Oak Lawn man at 63rd and Cicero

A 28-year-old Oak Lawn man was charged with obstruction of traffic by a non-motorist after
Ahmad Omar
police arrested him in front of 6316 S. Cicero at 8:11 p.m. Sunday, May 20.


Ahmad Omar, of the 5600 block of West Edge Lake Drive, was apprehended "after he was observed walking in the roadway obstructing traffic," police said.

They added that they discovered that Omar was wanted on a warrant, although they declined to disclose the nature of the warrant or the jurisdiction it was from.

According to public records, Omar has been arrested six times by CPD since 2014, on such charges as panhandling and criminal trespass to land.





Construction tools stolen from garage
Burglars broke a padlock on the service door of a garage in the 3800 block of West 65th Street and stole two ladders, two air staplers, a belt sander, two nail guns, a tile saw, an angle grinder, a table saw, a rotary hammer, a circular saw, a portable generator, a tire inflator kit and other items. The crime was reported by the victim, a 25-year-old woman, on May 25—although she said it occurred 18 days earlier.




Unlocked garage burglarized
Burglars entered an unlocked garage in the 5400 block of South Lockwood and stole a snow blower and two grass trimmers. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 76-year-old woman, at 8 a.m. Sunday, May 20.










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Popular Entertainment Acts to Take the Stage at St. Joe's Carnival, thru June 3

Old favorites and hot new entertainment acts can be
found on the main stage lineup for this year's carnival at St.
Joseph Parish, just 1/2 block west of 56th and Harlem.


Taking the stage from 7 to 11 p.m. Thursday, May
31 will be RockStar Rodeo, an exciting band known for both country-music and classic rock favorites.

Strung Out, which bills itself as “Chicago’s Ultimate 70’s musical experience playing an incredible treasure trove of classic 70’s music that other bands overlook,” is first up on Fri-
day, June 1, playing from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Closing out Friday’s live entertainment from 9 p.m. to
midnight is Libido Funk Circus, recently voted the Best Dance Band in Chicago by Chicago Rocker Magazine.

LFC boast a "monstrous set list" that includes songs made famous by such artists as Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, The Jackson 5, Katy Perry, Prince, Cee Lo Green, the Bee Gees, Rihanna, KC and the Sunshine Band, Stevie Wonder, Ke$ha, Vanilla Ice, Led Zeppelin, Salt N’ Pepa, Britney Spears, AC/DC, P!nk, and on and on.

On Saturday, June 3 a succession of some of the Chicago area’s best disc jockeys will spin a variety of Top 40 favorites to hot house mixes from 3 to 5 p.m., and then again from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Sunday promises a bit of something for everyone.

The Ampol Aires polka band will play from 2 to 4 p.m., followed by Reino Norteño from 5 to 6 p.m.

Devastatora will close out the carnival from
7:30 to 10 p.m.

St. Joseph Carnival hours are 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, June 1; 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, June 2; 3 p.m. to midnight Saturday, June 3; and 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 4.



In addition to musical entertainment, the four-day event features carnival rides, games of skill and chance.

All are encouraged to bring hearty appetites.

In addition to familiar favorites like cotton candy, lemonade and ice cream, several local restaurants and other food vendors will sell such taste-tempting delights as pizza slices, Italian beef and sausage sandwiches, Maxwell Street-style Polish sausage, hot dogs, corn dogs, meatball sandwiches, eggplant sandwiches, chicken parmigiana, barbecue chicken sandwiches, chicken fingers, steak tacos, marinated pork tacos, chicken tacos, taquitos and fajitas, pork stew, rice and beans, empanadas, funnel cakes and more.


The Carnival Committee at St. Joe's is encouraging everyone to stop by and have a great time: parishioners, alumni, friends of the school and parish, as well as everyone in the larger community. That's you!

Friday, May 25, 2018

Mega-Passes on Sale Now for Big, Fun Carnival at St. Joseph School

Mega-passes (wristbands) for the Southwest Side's first
parish carnival of the season are now on sale at St. Joseph School, 5641 South 73rd Avenue and the rectory at St. Joseph Parish, 7240 W. 57th St.

The annual carnival is set for Thursday, May 31 through Sunday, June 3 on the grounds of St. Joseph School, just west of 56th and Harlem.

Mega-passes cost $50 each and offer unlimited rides on all four days of the carnival. Cash only is accepted.



The rectory and school are closed for the holiday weekend. So the passes will be sold at the school office, 5641 S. 73rd Ave., from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 29 and Wednesday, May 30, as well as at the rectory from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the same days. 

Mega-passes also will be sold at the school office from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 30.

On Thursday, May 31 the price of a mega-pass goes up to $60 each. They will be on sale in the school office after 5 p.m. that day. 

Carnival hours are 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, May 31; 6 p.m.
to midnight Friday, June 1; 3 p.m. to midnight Saturday,
June 2; and from 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday, June 3.

The carnival features food vendors from local restaurants, live entertainment, a grand raffle and carnival rides and games.



For more information, call 
the school office at (708) 458-2927 or the rectory office at (708) 458-0501 during weekday business hours.

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Construction Jobs Available For School Annex Project in Brighton Park

Alderman Edward M. Burke (14th) is urging local residents to
apply to work on the construction of a new $2.7 million modular building that is being built at Columbia Explorers Academy, at 46th and Kedzie in Brighton Park.

The hiring events are sponsored by the Chicago Public Building Commission. They will take place from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Friday June 1, and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6. Both events will be held in the meeting room of the Little Village Branch Library, 2311 South Kedzie Avenue.

"Our community hiring efforts are an essential part of our work in building communities," said Carina E. Sanchez, Executive Director of the Public Building Commission of Chicago. "These projects, combined with the direct economic impact they have had on our communities, underscore the true role of public development in making our city a better place to live, work and raise families."

The Public Building Commission's hiring requirements require that 50 percent of the total construction hours worked on a project must come from City of Chicago residents. "Additionally, it is important to note that a portion of those jobs are set aside for those living in the immediate surrounding areas," Burke said.

Representatives of both contractors and subcontractors working on the project will be on hand to accept applications.

The new modular building will be completed by August of 2018 and provide space for six new classrooms with a modern design and larger windows. Suite improvements will include a new playlot, exterior finishes and perimeter landscape.

Crime News Update

Editor's note: The crime news reported by the Southwest Chicago Post---taken directly from Chicago Police Department incident reports---is not by any means an exhaustive catalogue of all crime reported in the Chicago Lawn (8th) District. For example, it typically does not include news of crimes committed in the eastern and southern sectors of the district---because the Southwest Chicago Post's coverage area is primarily the neighborhoods that border Midway Airport and secondarily because including the relatively large volume of crime news from elsewhere in the district would be a logistical challenge. We make this note to offer a little helpful perspective and remind everyone that while crime is definitely a concern in all parts of the district (as it always has been), crime remains relatively low overall in the western section of the district. May all of us work together diligently to keep it that way. May all of us also remember that a person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

* * *

Shot in legs while sitting in vehicle
A 22-year-old man was shot in both legs in a crime that occurred in the 4500 block of West 66th Place at about 1:25 a.m. Friday, May 18. The victim was taken to Holy Cross Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. Police said the victim was sitting inside a vehicle when a gunman began to fire shots into the vehicle. No one is in custody.

* * *

Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beats 815 or 821 (see map), come to St. Bruno School (south entrance) 4839 S. Harding, at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 6 and attend your monthly CAPS meeting. Hear updates on crime in your neighborhood and learn how you can work with neighbors and police to make the community safer and better for all.


Suburban man beaten on 47th Street
A 35-year-old man from suburban Round Lake Beach was beaten as he stood in front of 4120 W. 47th St. shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday, May 20. Police responding to a “battery” call found the man at the firehouse at 4034 W. 47th St. He had a large cut on his forehead and scratches on both arms. The victim was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he was initially listed in critical condition but later upgraded to serious. Police were initially unable to interview the victim because of his condition.


Shots fired into kitchen on 71st Street
Two men shot into a house in the 3700 block of West 71st Street at 11:53 p.m. Tuesday, May 15, slightly injuring a man inside. Police responding to a “shots fired” call found the home’s kitchen window shattered and bullet fragments on the kitchen table. A 20-year-old Cicero man inside the home told police that when the shots were fired, he felt pain in his lower lip—possibly from a bullet fragment or a piece of flying glass.  A CFD ambulance arrived on scene, but the victim refused treatment. Home surveillance footage showed two offenders, both Hispanic boys or men, wearing light-colored clothes.



Masked bandit robs Burger King on Pulaski
An armed bandit robbed the Burger King at 4060 S. Pulaski, making off with about $1,500. The crime occurred at 9:54 p.m. Saturday, May 19. A 23-year-old manager told police that she was closing a lobby door when a man jumped out of a red, four-door Pontiac sedan and waved a pistol at her. He pushed his way into the restaurant, ordered the other employees to lie on the floor and demanded cash from the registers and safe. The manager complied and then took cover in the kitchen area while the thug fled. He was described as a black man age 20-30, about 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, wearing a black ski mask, black gloves, a red hoody with a black Sons of Anarchy logo, and blue jeans.



Woman says masked man robbed her
A 25-year-old woman was robbed as she waited for a northbound bus at the CTA facility at 51st and Pulaski at 3 p.m. Monday, May 14. The victim told police that a man approached her from behind, pressed an unknown object against the left side of her head and demanded her valuables. She said she surrendered three iPhones, a Gucci purse and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bookbag. She reported the crime five hours after it occurred and described the robber as a man about 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds, with a dark complexion. He wore a black ski mask and a black hoody.



Woman’s kindness rejected by robber
A 52-year-old Brighton Park woman trying to show kindness to a stranger was instead robbed as she stood on a sidewalk in front of 4920 S. Tripp at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19. The victim told police that when a young man walked up and asked for money, she opened her purse to give him five dollars. Instead, he knocked her purse to the ground, grabbed $160 cash and ran away. He was described as a Hispanic man age 18-20, about 5-foot-5 and 140 pounds, with brown eyes and medium-length black hair, as well as a medium complexion. He wore a white T-shirt and blue jeans.



Claim woman made charges on elderly woman’s credit card
A 38-year-old Chicago Lawn woman was charged with theft and conducting an ongoing
Tracy Mason
financial criminal enterprise after she was arrested by police at 1:10 p.m. Friday, April 27 at a dialysis center at 3134 W. 76th St.


Tracy Mason, of the 2400 block of West 60th Street, was apprehended after it was discovered that she had made “numerous charges” on an 87-year-old woman’s credit card, police said.

They did not say if the victim was a patient at the center.







Bust pair in vehicle that was reported stolen

A 31-year-old Archer Heights man and a 21-year-old Canaryville woman were
Abraham Blockson
charged with criminal trespass to a vehicle after they were arrested by police at 11:22 a.m. Tuesday, May 15 in front of 5245 S. Archer.


Abraham Blockson, of the 4600 block of South Keeler, and Paige K. Santana, of the 700 block of West 48th Place, were apprehended after they were found by police in a vehicle that Santana allegedly borrowed from another person but did not return.

Police said the vehicle was reported stolen and that they found Santana in a passenger seat and Blockson in the driver’s seat with the vehicle’s key.

Bond was set at $5,000 for Santana, who was due in court at 51st and Wentworth on
Paige Santana
Wednesday, May 24.


According to public records, Santana has been arrested four times by CPD in the last 90 days—three times for criminal trespass to a vehicle.

Blockson has been arrested 10 times by CPD in the past three years, on such charges as criminal trespass to vehicles, domestic battery, assault and criminal trespass to land.






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Charge man with trespass to vehicle

A 33-year-old North Side man was charged with criminal trespass to a vehicle after he was
Joseph Delarosa
arrested by police at 11:30 p.m. Monday, May 14 in front of 5985 S. Archer.


Joseph A. Delarosa, of the 5000 block of North Leavitt, was reportedly “observed sleeping inside of a vehicle that did not belong to him after being told by the victim earlier in the day not to do so,” police said.










Say Gage Park motorist left scene of accident

A 23-year-old Gage Park man was charged with one misdemeanor count of leaving the
Ivan Garduno
scene of an accident after he was arrested by police at just before 9:30 p.m. Sunday, May 13 at 5300 S. Cicero.


Ivan Garduno, of the 5600 block of South Fairfield, was taken into custody after a Jeep Grand Cherokee he was driving westbound reportedly sideswiped a Toyota Corolla in the 4500 block of West 55th Street and then struck a fence, police said.

No injuries were reported. Garduno is due in court on June 19, police added.

According to public records, Garduno was arrested twice in 2014 and charged with unlawful contact with street gang members.




Burglar flees cellphone store empty-handed
A burglar used a brick to smash the front window of the Sprint Mobile store at 4654 S. Pulaski, entered but apparently fled without stealing anything. The crime occurred at 3 a.m. Tuesday, May 15, according to surveillance footage. The burglar was described only as a black man wearing a dark blue or gray hoodie, white gloves, blue jeans and black shoes.












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