Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Murder On 800 Block Of Cuyler?

A reader writes in: "The police are investigating a murder on 800 West Cuyler. One officer told me that someone was beaten to death with a 2x4."

Update: WGN News confirms that the body of a Latino man between 20-30 was found. They say it's "blunt force trauma." See the report here.

CBS2Chicago reports: "CHICAGO (STNG) ― Police are conducting a homicide investigation Wednesday night after a man was found dead from apparent blunt trauma injuries in the North Side's Uptown neighborhood. An unidentified man was found dead from apparent blunt trauma at 824 W. Cuyler Ave. Wednesday, a spokesman for the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said. Investigators from the office were on the scene Wednesday night, and pronouncement information was not immediately available.

Town Hall District police responded to a check the well-being call at the Cuyler Avenue address Wednesday afternoon, but would not discuss the investigation further. Police News Affairs Sgt. Antoinette Ursitti said Belmont Area detectives were conducting a homicide investigation Wednesday, but additional details were not immediately available."

25 comments:

  1. Yuck. There are a few shitty buildings on this block. I am about 100 yards away. Lots of problems with drug dealers in 2007. Right now the street is blocked off and a WGN truck is parked nearby. Gross.

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  2. I feel sorry for all the children who live in that building and the one across the street. They are always playing outside. This is terrible to have happen around all of them.

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  3. Cops are out and about in force around there. Saw what looked like some Hispanic members of youth organizations pulled over and being searched in the KFC parking lot.

    I hope the cops get the person or persons responsible for this.

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  4. 'This aint your college campus sweetie'

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  5. I agree with moop - seems there are more kids than what is usually seen on one block on this particular part of Cuyler. Always playing outside, etc. etc.

    I hope they get the SOB(s) that did this.

    Thanks for the 411 UU.

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  6. I walked by the aftermath of this last night. Cuyler was blocked off at Clarendon by a squad car. Those three buildings on Cuyler are trouble, and I'd love to see them gutted. A couple of years ago on the BPN message board we were able to trace the ownership to a notorious slum lord. It's one of Buena Park's last remaining trouble spots, and something needs to be done.

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  7. i live right down the street and constantly use cuyler as a thoroughfare and always get a sketchy vibe walking late at night. no kids are usually around at this time, but do notice a few shady men standing around. i hope they find the person who did this. scares me to think that my neighborhood is unsafe.

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  8. I guess my question is how many people attended the Court Hearings last summer about this building specifically? It is a known problem building and many people complain about it. However, when a notice was posted on UU and people were asked to go on the record about specific concerns to the City of Chicago Attorney very few did. I find that extremely frustrating. Not that it should let the landlord off the hook I am sure this will give the City more incentive to push him to do better screening for tenants.

    But it takes a lot of time and effort by community members to push an ownership change of an apartment building. Not many people have cared enough about this situation to do some of the work even when asked repeatedly. The City badly wants to remove this landlord but has been unable to get many specific examples of problems from community members to push further consequences. Police reports help but are not enough because they do not comment on the quality of life being disrupted due to the poor management of the property.

    This is not the first murder in or around that building in the last few years. You can certainly assume there will be more violence around that building given the past behavior of people living there. Listen we are all busy, but when will community members stop complaining and take some of their free time and create change rather than wait for someone else to do it for them?

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  9. Uptown Vegetarian, you're speaking to a brick wall. These people are only here to piss and moan. As you mention, they are all too busy with other things to be able to get off their collective backsides and away from the computer to make a real difference. Now, ask them for money for a cause someone else will champion and you've got action.

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  10. Was the murder committed inside an apartment on or the street and, yes, it could make a little bit of a difference.

    And UV, i think I just stood up and applauded...

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  11. Speaking of unproductive rhetoric...move to the head of the class Chuck! Thanks for bitching and moaning about other people bitching and moaning!

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  12. I was the lone community member at the 820-826 W. Cuyler Bldg. hearing in August. Since I don't live on the block, and don't travel past there in the evenings (when problems were cited) I couldn't really give examples of what I'd seen going on. I was just there to support the city's efforts to clean up the building, have the landlord screen tenants and speak to the eyesore the building was, with its garbage and bathtub in the front courtyard and its broken locks on the gates. The attorney in charge of the case is Judy Dever, her number is 312-744-9106. As I remember, the follow up court date for this building is the week before Thanksgiving, but she could tell you for sure. It sounds like there are people on this blog that could easily speak to specific instances surrounding the building that could aide Ms. Dever in making changes on that block. Even if you can't get to court, you could call her or e-mail her to help her build a strong case. Uptown Vegetarian, I share your frustration that some people only want to participate from their computer, so here's their chance. Her e-mail is judith.dever@cityofchicago.org.

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  13. Trey, maybe then I should thank YOU for getting rid of the drug dealers in front of my job? Oh, wait, no. That wasn't YOU taking pictures of them or calling 911 every day or standing in the street letting them see me watching them deal and taking afore said pictures while they watched me take pictures. It wasn't YOU walking around at 5:30 a.m. on those dark streets letting them know I was still watching and calling the cops. They're gone now, moved on to other places. And I'm still watching and doing my part OFF the computer.

    Oh, and are YOU the one walking through the new playlot on Sunnyside every morning looking watching for illicit behavior or examining the school parking lot pushing out the rif raf so the school staff can safely get into the building? Thought not.

    Are you the one carrying a bag with you so that you can clean the trash in that same play lot in the afternoon when you walk by? Nope. Are you the one shooing the panhandlers out of the Dunkin Doughnuts parking lot so those young ladies can be in a safe place when it's dark and most are sleeping? Again the answer is no.

    But comment, boy howdy will you. Knock your neighbors to the curb if they disagree with you even slightly. Amen brother, pass the amunition. I would much rather have the Jesus People in my neighborhood watching my back. At least they offer love.

    I don't comment nearly as much as I used to or as much as I'd like. I'm busy.

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  14. Oh, and by the way, I am constantly talking with cops passing on what I see complete with dates, times, descriptions of the people and their actions. Just another small thing I'm doing to make my corner of the world better.

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  15. Chuck, get off of your high horse. You aren't the only one who makes an effort in this neighborhood. There are plenty that take pictures of dealers, and work with the police, and pick up garbage, go to CAPS, etc. Not all of us can take time off of work to go to a court hearing, many people work during those hours and can't afford the time off. Everyone that lives here has a stake in Uptown, and they have a right to complain and vent. Your assumptions about what people do and don't do in this community make you no better than those who don't even live here but feel the need to comment about Uptown on a daily basis.

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  16. Read the above response Chuck. I support anyone who is a productive resident of Uptown. But it is undeniable that the two posts you made in this thread are wholly unproductive and completely self-serving. You seem to be running a negative campaign for the title of "most righteous blog commenter". I'll give you my vote if you take a deep breath, relax, and realize most of us are working to solve the same problems, in the same neighborhood.

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  17. I've never seen this case on the court advocate calendar at CAPS. Perhaps we could bring it up at the next meeting(s) and ask to have it put on the calendar to raise awareness of the problem?

    What beat is the building in? Anyone in that beat want to have that brought up at your next CAPS meeting?

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  18. I just feel the need to point out that I have personally kept Uptown free of any alligator, crocodile, or werewolf attacks since 1983.

    Attack Free since 83', now vote for me!

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  19. Sounds like Chuck walks the walk, and is just frustrated. We all get frustrated and just need to remember we are not alone. Keep walkin the walk Chuck.

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  20. To UV, bp neighbor, and chuck:

    You have every right to be frustrated, there's no "high horse" about it.

    With my sincere thanks, I hope you can take heart in knowing your're part of the "vital few," rather than "the trivial many."

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  21. thanks chuck. you're vigilance is commendable. Your comment makes me want to work harder for Uptown.

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  22. First, to the family who lost a loved one, my prayers are with you.

    Second, Chuck, et. al...I had no idea until I read these postings that I had a right as a renter in the area to have a voice.

    Well, here's my voice....I've seen the drug addicts sitting on the "fire plug" outside of that same building for 4 years now. "holler" up", wait on the fire plug, and your package will be deliverd. Same bums that hang out on the corner on Broadway and harrass the guys across the UHaul trying to make an honest buck to help folks moving.

    I have never seen a CAPS meeting notice, received a call or any such notification of citizens rights in our neighborhood..

    But after seeing some of the key players thrown in the "bus" last year, I notice they are recently back, and no "worse for wear".

    I want these drug dealers and illegals gone from our neighborhood in the worst way, but most of all, shame on this "slum lord". My vote will count. Thanks for giving me the info to fight with.

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  23. Buana Park Caps meeting
    7pm, November 6th
    Uptown library

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  24. bpobserver: Please call Judy Dever with the city attorney's office and let her know of your experiences with the building, her number is 312-744-9106. Your voice can make a difference!

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