A reader writes: I wanted to share my experience this morning. So wrong in so many ways.
I was up and outside early this morning (6 AM) to get coffee when I observed what could have been a very bad situation. A young woman was walking down my street and she realized that she was being followed by a man. She started walking faster and took out her cell phone. She crossed the street and he crossed the street. At this point I had my cell phone out and was following them.
The next thing I knew, a silver SUV that I have seen in the neighborhood before pulls up right next to her and slows to her pace. Illinois Handicap License Plate JESU 1. I've seen enough dealers to recognize what he was doing. I highly suspect he was attempting to sell narcotics to her.
Eventually, she reached her building, got inside safely, and the guy following her stopped and turned around. I can't believe how terrifying this experience must have been for this young woman.
I'm alerting your readers to pay attention to their surroundings. Please stay alert and look out for your neighbors.
What is the best thing to do when in a situation like this?
ReplyDeleteI feel like I can be alert until the cows come home but things like this could still happen.
If you didn't do it, next time use your cell phone and call 911 to report what you saw (both the stalker and the drug dealer).
ReplyDeleteWhat streets was this around?
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry...not to be naive here...but what exactly was going on? Was the man following her working in tandem with the person in the SUV...to what, abduct her? If so, why not call the police and report it?
ReplyDeleteWell, now we know the answer to that age old question; "What would Jesu do?" Chase down old folks and sell them drugs. But, Jesu, I've got news for you, old people get their drugs from Canada, not Mexico.
ReplyDeleteSeems more like an attempted abduction to me.
ReplyDeleteMight have been a purse snatch with the car being the getaway method. Could have been just strange behavior.
ReplyDeleteEither way, always make the 911 call, no reason not to. If you get approached by the weirdo, tell them you are talking to 911 and don't fight too hard if they still want your bag/wallet/phone.
I have to say, in regard to "why not call 911?"
ReplyDelete- I had a guy pull down his pants and pee right in my yard last week, at about 3:40 pm. Right in front of my family. I had the presence of mind to take a picture of this guy in the act. No less than 20 minutes later I have the photo printed, and I run down my beat cop on the street. I show him the photo, told him the guy was mere minutes away up the street, and he tells me "what the hell do you want me to do?" I say, this guy flashed my family with his d*ck and pisses in my yard, and I need to find a reason to get him?
He says, "you guys and your cameras, you think we are on call for you. -- So at the CAPS meeting they gripe that citizens dont do their part, but in reality, I get a PHOTO of a crime, and the cops too lazy to raise a finger. Helen's ward gets better every day.
windowless,
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain. Really, what would you like the cop to do?
arrest the guy based on windowless's complaint and photographic evidence maybe?
ReplyDeleteTriage is the the best analogy I can come up with. The cop would have to hunt this guy down, arrest him, throw him in jail, (if he could fit) just so he can get let out on an "I" bond and have his case thrown out, if he even shows up.
ReplyDeleteThough I understand windowless' anger over the issue, the cop can't really do anything.
Windowless, next time that happens, pop the guy in the face, or spray him with the hose. Then call 911 if they put up a stink, because you actually have something on them!
(I sprayed some kids smoking pot behind my garage with the hose with an, "Oh, excuse me." It was quite effective. (not that there is anything wrong with smoking pot!)
Go Uptown.
Bring your pic to the next beat meeting and make the commander know what transpired. I am sure you will get swift action from her.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain windowless but you need to follow through with this in order to get things to change.
Please bring this to the Commanders attention.
last summer I had some chronic drunks that would drink on my front stoop every night.
ReplyDeleteI started to mop my floors and dump my dirty mop water on them out the window.
The good news is they quit doing it after several times and I had really clean floors.
You can still call 911 (or 311 and report it as a non-emergency). Provide the plate information and they should follow up. You should also contact the 23rd Dist and let them know all the information. They will run the plates - we had a situation last week where the plates were known.
ReplyDeleteCall in and report what you see. The smallest fact could lead to an arrest and conviction.
My boyfriend told me that he had a similar experience with a silver SUV around my neighborhood too. I live east of Broadway.
ReplyDeleteI thought he was just being paranoid though. This was later at night about after midnight?
I'd love to know the cross streets of this incident if the submitter is around...
ReplyDeleteI'd like 2nd the motion of advising the location(s) in which this incident transpired, please advise at your earliest convenience.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I would have helped for sure. We all need to keep our eyes and ears open as it is a real war out there and we nned to work together mto keep the garbage out of our areas.........
ReplyDeleteIf you're being followed, chances are the person is still asking themselves whether or not they should do whatever it is they're planning. Any sign of strength or awareness on your part is a huge deterrent. The opposite only increases your chances of becoming a victim.
ReplyDeleteIf you're ballsy enough, make eye contact.
If not, call someone and tell them where you are and what's happening loud enough for the person you feel threatened by to hear you.
Try to carry or keep your keys close enough to be able to use them as a weapon - sticking out of your fingers when hand is in a fist.
I have mixed feeling about how or why I know that, but it can be scary out there for us gals, and not just in Uptown.
Lemme see, you take the time to "run down your beat cop" at least twenty minutes after the fact instead of simply calling 911. What's wrong with this picture? Did you think the bad guy would stick around and wait for you to find your beat cop or was it the more likely scenario that the bad guy was gone for at least twenty minutes. Seems to me that the one with the common sense was "your beat cop". Next time call 911.
ReplyDeleteMagical City...
ReplyDeleteTriage isn't really a great metaphor unless the cop is busy doing something more important--like a doctor or nurse in a triage situation is.
A more appropriate comparison may be traffic stop for a moving violation. Why do you do routine traffic stops? To discourage undesired behavior and to use that opportunity to check for warrants or a more serious crime in progress.
Also, read "The Tipping Point" if you don't believe that minor law enforcement doesn't have a impact greater than the sum of each individual act.
I also, wonder what street this was on?
ReplyDeleteAside from getting a 110 pound Doberman, it is becoming more challenging to walk the streets up here. I feel sorry for any female in Uptown, that simply needs to travel from A to B.
What I have noticed, is there seems to be more cops-on-bikes, which is encouraging.
Peeing is not flashing.
ReplyDeleteI mean C'mon.
Much worse things are going on.
I have stories....that's not a story.
None of us are aware of everything serious that's going on. But when you have real serious encounters...not peeing...it means something.
Stu - Although public urination may be considered a less of an illegal activity, the undeniable fact is that it is still illegal.
ReplyDeleteYour line of logic would suggest that you would call the cops on me for inflicting bodily harm upon you, but if I entered your home without permission and raided your fridge, that'd be ok since no one was harmed. You just shared some food with me, right?
Over simplified? Maybe.
Each act described illegal & criminal? Definately.
It's called holding individuals accountable for tbeir own actions...big or small. Isn't that one of the major issues this community has when you break it down to brass tacks???
I agree it's not flashing, but children should not be witnessed to a stranger's genitals. Perhaps you've lived in Uptown so long that you've forgotten that other communities have higher expectations of conduct. Living in Uptown should not have to mean that our expectations of conduct should be kept low.
ReplyDeleteOther communities have higher expectations of conduct? I can't tell you how many times I've seen frat boys urinating in Lincoln Park. Oh. Wait. That might be OK if you're white...
ReplyDeleteEither way, it's disgusting. Many judges considered it indecent exposure, and a conviction could get your name on a sex offender registry. Sounds pretty serious to me.
8-4-081 Public urination or defecation.*
ReplyDeleteAny person who urinates or defecates on the public way, or on any outdoor public property, or on any outdoor private property, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00, or incarcerated for no less than five days and no more than ten days, or both fined and incarcerated. This ordinance shall not apply to use of a temporary or permanent structure or enclosure erected outdoors for use as a toilet facility.
(Added Coun. J. 7-31-02, p. 91449, § 1)
This is pretty silly. A citizen photographs a misdemeanor act, shows it to the police, and the police ask "what do you want me to do?"
When the citizenry have to remind the police officers of the laws the police officers are deputized to enforce we have a big problem.
Bring this evidence to the next CAPS meeting.
Windowless situation,
ReplyDeleteDid you tell the officer YOU would sign a complaint and willing go to court?
For all others in this situation with public urination or any other quality of life crime (drinking, aggressive panhandling).
Unless the officer observes the act him/herself. The officer can not make an arrest without a citizen complainant. And then if a officer refuses to make an arrest with YOU as the complainant call 911 and request a supervisor.
Remember you observed the crime, you are the victim, not the officer.
And as far as the van and person following the woman. That is a 911 call for suspicious person/auto. And provide as much detailed description as possible of both the vehicle and person. Include why they are suspicious, where they are, direction of travel, etc.
Hi Windowless and I have had the same problems. I own a condo but still see the homeless drunks in clarendon park that use the park area as a sleeping ground and bathroom. I have called the police and they refered me to the park police and they told me that its Helens fault as she wants them to ease up on the people who use the park as thier home. I called her offic e and they acted like they did not know anything. Too bad as it seems no-one really cares and we suffer the unsafe and unhealthy conditions of uptown. We need a new management team that does care so remember this when its time to vote........................
ReplyDeleteLest there be any doubt this guy flashed me, heres the photo. Um, peeing is flashing in this case. I'm not yet desensitized enough to feel that a fat guy with his pants down is something I should'nt trifle the police about.
ReplyDeletehttp://i43.tinypic.com/25qxb1e.jpg
Jane, come on... I'd call 911 on Wrigley frat boys pissing too. And often times - in Uptown - the public urinators are white as well.
ReplyDeleteSorry to post and not follow up. Busy day yesterday.
ReplyDeleteThe intersection was Lawrence and Kenmore and the woman was walking southbound on Kenmore. She was smart, she knew exactly what to do in terms of safety. She looked around to see if anyone else was watching and she knew I was. She got on her cell phone and she appeared confident. The whole thing happened so quickly that I didn't have time to call 911 at that moment. Had anything actually happened I would have called immediately.
The reason I posted this is because it infuriates me when people are being harassed and intimidated on the street, especially women. In the two block walk that this woman took she had to deal with two very uncomfortable situations. It's not ok, and never will be and using the excuse that this is Uptown, get used to it, is unacceptable.
I'm not advocating for anyone to be a vigilante about this. But I just happened to come across a situation where I could have been of great help. I'm just grateful that nothing drastic happened and that people are aware that things like this are occurring in our neighborhoods.
Thanks, Nadmenny. I appreciate the advice and will follow thru if it ever happens again.
ReplyDeleteTo the Author of This Post:
ReplyDeleteThank you, for not only posting this but also for the follow up. I live on that very block and am grateful for the information.
For those who think it has gotten more dangerous or difficult to just walk down the street in this neighborhood, I'd like to say that is not the case. I've lived in various locations in Uptown for nearly 15 years, and the vigilance and hard work of committed people have changed this place for the better.
There was a time when I couldn't walk to the el in the morning without vans and cars slowly following me, men leering from the windows and asking "how much?" Mind you, this was before 9 a.m. and I was wearing a suit, but there you have it.
Women do face harassment of all different sorts on a near daily basis, in every community. Most men don't get this, even the really good, honorable ones. It's just not a part of their personal experience in the world, why would they?
Thanks again for the info, I will pass it along to my neighbors...
Kenmore is one way north. If she's walking south on Kenmore, how does the suv pull up next to her and keep pace with her? Was the suv driving in reverse?
ReplyDeleteSee Jane... they have these issues - and DEAL WITH THEM PROPERLY - even in the burbs! Quite a timely article :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-090424public-urination,0,3708208.story
Jane, your racist card is showing when you made the comment that no one speaks up if white frat boys pee publicly. No one ever mentioned the race of the man in Uptown peeing on public property. You made the assumption he was African-American.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe your cape is twisted too tightly around your neck.
You're correct, the 4700 block is one way north. She was approached by the suv on the 4600 block, which is two-way.
ReplyDeleteI was not trying to imply that anyone on this site is racist. It was a comment on the ongoing inequalities in the criminal justice system. You know that when a homeless guy of color is seen urinating in Wrigley the police reaction is a lot different. In hindsight, it was a weak connection to Windowless's situation.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if your penis is in plain view, I don't care if you're peeing or...um...taking care of other personal business, it is indecent exposure and should be treated as such.
Windowless: Officer! Officer!!
ReplyDeleteOfficer: What's the problem?
Windowless: This man pulled out his penis and pissed in front of me and my kids! (holds up picture)
Officer: When did this happen?
Windowless: About 20 min. ago. I had to get the picture printed off my camera.
Officer: Where is he now?
Windowless: I don't know. I had to print the picture. He can't be far.
Officer: Which way did he go?
Windowless: I don't know. I had to print the picture.
Officer: Well then what do you want me to do about it?
Windowless: I HAVE A PICTURE!!!!!!! DO SOMETHING!!!!!
What the guy did is wrong. But come on what did you want the cop to do.
ReplyDeleteThree steps to solve is problem:
1) Call 911 and watch where the the guy going.
2) Point the offender out and sign a complaint
3) GO TO COURT with the 23rd district court advocates and make sure all your neighbors do the same thing
Officer: This ain't your college campus, sweetie, where the toilets are free!
ReplyDeleteWhy do most comments stop after I write a post?
ReplyDeleteIs it something I said.
You could always post on my blog.
Even-though it's not about Uptown.