Update--2 p.m. Friday, September 12: On Friday morning, Karl Trujillo attended a bond hearing. Bond was set at $400,000, and his next court date is Oct. 1 at Cook County Circuit Court Branch 66, 26th and California. He is currently held by the Cook County Department of Corrections.
~ ~ ~
Details released by CPD at 10:27 p.m. Thursday, September 11:
Convicted Sex Offender Apprehended
Near Southwest Side School
Name: Karl Trujillo, 39
7300 block of West Archer Avenue
Summit, Illinois
Charges: One felony count of Child Sex Offender – School Zone
One misdemeanor count of Reckless Conduct
One misdemeanor count of Resisting a Peace Officer
Bond: Central Bond Court , 26th and California – Sept.12
Karl Trujillo was arrested and charged after he was observed approaching young
Karl Trujillo
children outside of a school on the 6300 block of South New England Ave at approx. 3 pm. on September 10, 2014.
A school administrator observed the suspicious behavior and confronted the offender. Upon learning that the offender did not have any children attending the school, the administrator promptly alerted an off-duty CPD officer, who called 911 and followed Trujillo as he walked away.
As responding officers arrived, Trujillo attempted to flee but was apprehended after a short foot pursuit, during which he resisted officers’ attempts to place him in custody.
Further investigation revealed that Trujillo was a registered sex offender, and he was charged accordingly. According to Illinois State Police, Trujillo was convicted of a sexual offense that occurred when he was 23 years old, against a 15-year-old victim. That crime occurred in Will County.
# # #
Reminder: If you live in Beat 811 (Garfield Ridge west of Central Avenue), please attend the next Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch meeting, set for 7 p.m. Monday, September 15 at St. Daniel the Prophet Church, 53rd and Natoma. Learn the latest about crime in the neighborhood and most important, what you can do to keep the neighborhood one of the safest and best in the entire city!
Just sharing some information from Special Olympics Chicago:
The 2nd Annual Midway Fly Away 5k will take place on Sunday, September 21. Run right on
the airfield at this unique 3.1 mile event!
Registration includes souvenir race t-shirt, post race refreshments and free parking.
Just like last year, the runner who crosses the finish line "midway" will be awarded (2) round-trip Southwest Airlines tickets to fly anywhere in the continental United States. Winner must be at least 18 years of age. Other great raffle prizes will also be awarded and prizes will be presented to the first place winners.
Top male and top female finishers will win a $100 gift certificate to Running Excels along with a framed piece of art created by one of our talented athletes!
Fun for the whole family so bring your children to enjoy face painters and balloon artists! Souvenir merchandise and refreshments will also be available for purchase.THERE WILL BE NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION so reserve your spot at the start line and register today. When you register, a fundraising page will automatically be created for you. Fundraisers raising $250 or more by October 1 will be entered into a raffle to win 2 tickets on Southwest Airlines. Packet pick-up will take place:
Thursday, September 18: 3:00pm-8:00pm Running Excels - 10328 S. Western Ave.
Saturday, September 20: 10:00am-2:00pm Hale Park- 6258 W 62nd St.
Race day check-in will be held from 8:00am until the race starts at 9:00am at the Southwest Airlines Hangar, located at 5035 West 55th Street at Midway Airport in Chicago, IL.
Doors to the Southwest Airlines hangar will open at 8 am. Participants are required to bring a photo id for check-in at the Southwest Airlines Hangar, located at 5035 West 55th Street at Midway Airport. No backpacks/bags will be allowed on the course, however, there will be gear check available the day of the race. No “wheels”, including strollers, bicycles, tricycles, rollerblades, inline skates, will be allowed on the airfield.
Free parking will be available for all participants in the Midway Airport Economy Parking lot, located at 5050 West 55th Street.
The event benefits the year round programs enjoyed by 5,000 Special Olympics Chicago athletes. For more information on getting involved and making a difference, visit www.sochicago.org.
Our thanks to the City of Chicago, Department of Aviation and Southwest Airlines for their ongoing support!
By Joan Hadac Editor and Publisher Southwest Chicago Post As a lifelong Southwest Sider, I've seen my share of dirty political campaigns over the years--but that doesn't mean I'm numb to it. It's just as offensive to me, as a voter, in 2014 as it was years ago. On Wednesday evening, I saw a small sample of what probably are things to come in the 23rd Ward aldermanic race. Two men in white shirts were stuffing leaflets under car windshield wipers at and around the Mayfield banquet hall, near Archer and Mayfield. The leaflet showed an unflattering photo of 23rd Ward Alderman Michael R. Zalewski and made some accusations about him that I will not repeat here. Why will I not repeat them? Primarily because the leaflet gave no indication, really, of who was behind it. Just an annoyingly vague little line at the bottom that read, "PAID FOR BY CITIZENS FOR THE TRUTH" or "DOPES WHO TYPE IN CAPS LOCK" or something like that. Same reason I won't show photos of tagger or gang graffiti on this website. I don't give free publicity to cowards. My husband saw these two guys, waved and hollered, "Hey, who you with?" but they scurried away with nothing more than a giggle from the younger of the two. Really. Cowards. And why was the leaflet delivered to cars parked at the Mayfield? Well, clearly it was no coincidence that the cars belonged to mostly middle-aged and elderly men and women from the neighborhood, who were at the banquet hall to attend a public-service event hosted by Congressman Dan Lipinski. The people leaving the hall, generally speaking, form the core of Zalewski's political base--and the leaflet was designed as an attack--a sneak attack, granted--against the alderman on his home turf.
I don't know which of the aldermanic challengers was behind the leaflet, but the anonymity of the attack casts a cloud over all of them, unfortunately. And I know that all three challengers, as well as the alderman (via his staff), read what I publish on swchicagopost.com. Hopefully, whoever was behind it will step forward out of the shadows, claim ownership and explain himself or herself. But here's one thing I want all 23rd Ward aldermanic challengers to keep in mind. I'm pretty much the average voter in the 23rd Ward, politically speaking. A registered Democrat, but basically an independent at heart. No firm allegiances to any elected official or challenger. In fact, if the aldermanic election were held tomorrow morning, I'm not sure if I'd vote for anyone in the race. Truly. But like most voters, my eyes, ears and mind are certainly open. And if you can convince me, you can convince a wide swath of voters in the political center, and that will swing the election in your direction. So between now and February, I challenge you to earn my vote. Do your best to convince me, and voters like me, that you are a candidate with brains and backbone. Appeal to my intellect. Tell me why you are the right candidate, not why the other guy is the wrong candidate. And please, no more anonymous leaflets. Don't be a weasel. We already have too many weasels in elected office at local, county, state and federal levels. Agreed?
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 Sector 1. 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.
* * *
Police
continue to investigate the Sept. 5 shooting death of a 24-year-old Oak Lawn
man at a home near 62nd and Kilpatrick.
Police responding to a
“shots fired” call shortly after 5 p.m. found the body of Giovanni Galindo
lying at an open basement doorway. Strewn about were cannabis and crack
cocaine, police added, as well as two shell casings. Police said they saw gunshot wounds in his stomach and calf, according to a CPD incident report.
A witness, a 19-year-old
Archer Heights man, told police he was walking north in an alley when he saw
two people flee the scene. They are described only as Hispanic men, one age 35-37
and the other age 16-18.
The witness and CFD paramedics attempted to resuscitate Galindo at the scene, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Holy Cross Hospital.
The CPD report gave no indication that the slaying was gang related.
* *
*
A 22-year-old Chicago Lawn man was arrested after he allegedly burglarized a
Ivan Orejel
garage near 67th and Springfield at 1:47 a.m. Monday, Sept. 1.
Ivan Orejel of 63rd and Sacramento is currently held on $50,000 bond by the Cook County Department of Corrections. He is next scheduled to appear in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 48, 155 W. 51st St., on Monday, Sept. 22.
He allegedly entered the garage via a window and was stacking stolen items near the door. The items included two electric saws, a hedge trimmer and a six-pack of Miller Genuine Draft beer.
The victim, a 53-year-old man, said he was alerted to the situation when his garage alarm was triggered and he saw Orejel inside. Police responding to a "burglary in progress" call apprehended Orejel, according to a CPD incident report.
* * *
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* * *
A 37-year-old Vittum Park man
told police that a thug slashed him with a knife as he walked down a
sidewalk near Archer and Linder at 12:20 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 7. The
victim was taken by CFD ambulance to Holy Cross treatment for a gash under his
left eye. He described his attacker only as a Hispanic man.
* *
*
A 65-year-old Clearing man told police that a pair of gangbangers punched him in the head during a traffic altercation near 60th and McVicker at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30--although he did not report the crime until five days later.
The victim said he was driving when he saw the pair, in a blue Chevy Caprice, blow a stop sign. He said he waved at them, and they responded by getting out of their car, running over to him and punching him while shouting a gang slogan.
The beating continued, the victim said, until a neighbor came out and frightened the criminals back to their car. They then sped away south on McVicker.The victim said he did not request medical assistance because he was already on the way to an unrelated medical appointment at a west suburban hospital. The two are described only as Hispanic men age 17-20, 5'7 to 5'10 and 140-150 pounds.
* * *
* * *
A 39-year-old Scottsdale man was arrested and charged with battery after he allegedly used an air rifle to shoot a 43-year-old Chicago Heights man in the foot. The victim told police that Romero Q. Gonzalez of 77th and Knox shot him outside the Scottsdale address. He was treated at a local hospital and released. The CPD incident report gave no indication of a court date.
* * *
A 27-year-old Scottsdale man told police that two women sprayed pepper spray in his face and stole $1,800 cash from his pockets when they met at the Aloha Motel, 8515 S. Cicero, at 1 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3. The victim told police that he met the two women via the Tango cell phone app and arranged to meet them at the motel.
After he was sprayed in the face, the women fled in a GMC truck with two men described only as black. The vehicle sped away south on Cicero.
The two attackers are described as white women age 21-27, about 5'7 and 140-170 pounds, one with long blond hair, the other with long brown hair.
* * *
Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 812 (see map), come to St. Symphorosa School at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 10. 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.
Burglars entered a garage near 45th and Komensky and stole
two lawnmowers. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 23-year-old woman, at
1:01 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5.
* *
*
Burglars pried open the service door
of a garage near 63rd Place and Mayfield and stole a snow blower, a
sewing machine, a stereo system and assorted shoes. The crime was discovered by
the victim, a 59-yea-old woman, at 10:50 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5. The woman had
held a garage sale earlier in the day, police added.
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Burglars forced open the service door of a garage near 78th and Kilbourn and stole a vintage radio. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 49-year-old man, at midnight Saturday, Sept. 6.
* * *
Burglars kicked in the service door of a garage near 83rd and Kostner and stole assorted tools and a bicycle. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 47-year-old woman, at 5 a.m. Friday, Sept. 5.
* * *
Burglars removed a window air conditioner
from an apartment near 63rd and Nashville, crawled inside and stole
a TV, an iPad, a laptop computer, and a metal safe containing a paycheck and
$400 cash. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 37-year-old woman, when
she came home from work at 1:20 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 6.
Burglars kicked in the service door of
a garage near 52nd and Lawndale and stole a bicycle. The crime was
discovered by the victim, a 39-year-old man, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3.
* *
*
A 63-year-old Archer Heights man told
police that burglars damaged the overhead door of his garage near 47th and Kilpatrick. The crime was discovered at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3. Nothing
was reported stolen, and the victim told police that two other garages nearby
had been damaged in a similar fashion.
Burglars pushed in a window air
conditioner at Hancock High School, 4034 W. 56th St., and stole a
video camera used for recording sporting events. They also sprayed graffiti on
the walls of the school gymnasium. The crime was reported to police at 8:30
a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2
* * *
Burglars entered a home near 51st and La Crosse and stole assorted jewelry, a purse with $250 cash, and assorted credit cards. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 48-year-old woman, when she came home from work at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2. Police said they saw no sign of forced entry at the home.
Just sharing some information from our friends at St. Mary Star of the Sea. Mark your calendars and make plans to attend. Looks like fun for the whole family!
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 Sector 1. 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.
* * *
Rodrigo Medellin
Cicero Police announced that they have arrested a 31-year-old man they believe to be the "No Boundaries Bandit" (a criminal who has robbed a dozen banks--including four on the Southwest Side--over a wide swath of the Chicago area between May 16 and Aug. 31). Cicero police said they "immediately identified" Rodrigo Medellin "after viewing his images and recognized him as an individual who they had long suspected of involvement with local street gangs," according to a statement posted online.
Police said they "immediately began tracking his known whereabouts and tracked him to Broadview, near Roosevelt Road and 18th Street on Sunday. He was apprehended and then arrested at 3 p.m., following a short vehicle chase and then foot chase. The FBI was immediately notified. Medellin was found in possession of a firearm at the time of the arrest. Police recovered one loaded Tec 9 automatic weapon with a 30-round magazine."
According to Cicero Police, Medellin was charged with multiple counts of armed robbery: felony aggravated assault to a police officer; felony aggravated fleeing and eluding police; felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon; multiple traffic violations and a parole violation warrant.
His vehicle was towed and impounded.
Police added that Medellin is suspected in the robbery of the following banks:
Aug. 31, TCF Bank, 800 N. Harlem Ave, River Forrest Aug. 21, 2:08 p.m. at BMO Harris, 9101 Cermak in Riverside Aug. 15, 6 p.m. at Chase Bank, 100 W. North Ave. in Northlake Aug. 11, 1:17 p.m. at Park Federal Savings, 5400 S. Pulaski, Chicago July 16, 2:35 p.m. at Popular Bank, 1700 W. Lake in Melrose Park June 25, 4:50 p.m. at TCF Bank, 5320 S. Pulaski, Chicago June 24, 5:06 p.m. at Chase Bank, 1700 N. Wells, Chicago June 19, 4:33 p.m. at Charter One, 4001 South Harlem in Stickney June 11, 3:13 p.m. at Washington Federal Bank, 2869 S. Archer, Chicago Jun. 6, 4:50 p.m. at PNC Bank, 6650 W. Cermak in Berwyn May 27, 1:27 p.m. at TCF Bank, 6315 W. 55th Street, Chicago May 16, 5:14 p.m. at PNC Bank, 4900 W. 87th St. in Burbank. Officials at the FBI's Chicago office have acknowledged only that a suspect is in custody.
* * *
* * *
A 33-year-old West Elsdon man has been charged in connection with a shooting that
Luis Gonzalez
occurred a Cook County Forest Preserve soccer field that injured one man, Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart said Monday. Luis Gonzalez of 55th and Kolin is charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, reckless discharge of a firearm, and vehicular invasion. He is scheduled to appear in bond court on Tuesday at the Cook County Circuit Court facility in Bridgeview. Dart said that at about 5:15 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, Cook County Sheriff’s Police detectives were notified of a shooting that took place at a Cook County Forest Preserve soccer field located near 147th and Ridgeland, in Oak Forest. It was reported that approximately 2,000 people attended a soccer match there. According to the Sheriff’s Police investigation, at the conclusion of the game, a man fired a gun, injuring a 47-year-old Harvey man. The victim was taken to an area hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and was later released. Dart said that Gonzalez attempted to flee in another person’s vehicle, but was apprehended by Oak Forest Police, who arrived to assist the Cook County Forest Preserve Police already on scene.
* * *
Want to work directly with Chicago Police to prevent crime in your neighborhood? If you live in Beat 815 or 821 (see map), come to St. Bruno School (south entrance)at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 3. 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.
A 29-year-old Palos Hills man was shot as he stood on a sidewalk in front of 3715 W. 57th Street at 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. Police said that the victim is an admitted gangbanger originally from the 53rd and Albany area in Gage Park. He was shot twice in his lower right leg and transported by CFD ambulance to Christ Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition. The shooter was described only as a Hispanic man wearing a black hoodie.
* * *
An 18-year-old Clearing man, described by police as a gangbanger, was stabbed in the back by a group of three rival gangbangers as he stood on a sidewalk in front of 5550 W. 63rd Place at 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. The victim was transported by CFD ambulance to Christ Hospital. He said the trio of hoodlums shouted gang slogans and then fled in a gray pickup truck. They are described only as Hispanic men age 30-40.
A 44-year-old woman walking to a local grade school to pick up her children was robbed by an armed thug on a bicycle. The crime occurred at 2:35 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. The offender rode up, showed a handgun in his waistband, and robbed the victim of her purse, wallet, cell phone and $1,000 cash--she told police. The criminal then rode away north, then east on 63rd Street. Police later found the bike abandoned in front of 4149 W. 63rd Street. The crook is described as a black man age 18-20, 5'7 and 155 pounds, brown eyes, black afro-style hair, medium complexion, with tattoos on both arms.
* * *
Burglars cut through a chain link fence, drop a pick-up truck to a loading dock and stole assorted copper pipes from a warehouse at 4025 S. Keeler. The crime occurred at 3:13 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, according to police. An employee said that the offenders fled after they saw him watching them.
* * *
Burglars entered the back door of a home near 59th and Hamlin and stole $8,360 cash from a safe. The crime was discovered by the victim, a 59-year-old woman, at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28.
A 25-year-old Chicago Lawn man told police he was robbed at gunpoint by a pair of thugs who accosted him as he stood at a CTA bus stop near 63rd and Cicero at 9:50 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26. The hoodlums stole his wallet, $60 cash and his cell phone and then ran east on 63rd Street. The victim said he later saw them in a black Cadillac Escalade. They are described only as Hispanic men age 20-23.
* * *
A 23-year-old Archer Heights woman said she was robbed as she walked down a sidewalk in front of 4032 W. 48th Street at 2 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. She said a man grabbed her from behind, pulled her hair and tried to take her purse. She succeeded in hanging onto her purse, but the bandit snatched a $100 bill from the purse before fleeing on foot. She refused medical treatment and told police that the thug later came back and asked her, in Spanish, "How much for sex?" The offender is described as a Hispanic man age 40, 5'7 and 160 pounds, brown eyes, short black hair, medium complexion.
* * *
An 18-year-old West Lawn man was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of ammunition. Police on patrol said they saw Gerardo Martinez of 62nd and Kilpatrick try to hide several rounds of ammunition in a pay-phone coin return at a gas station at 4700 W. 63rd Street at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27. Martinez, described by police as a gangbanger, is set to appear in Cook County Circuit Court Branch 34, 155 W. 51st St., on Oct. 3.
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