Thursday, May 7, 2009

Crack Is Whack On Leland, Keep Calling 911

A reader writes in:
"Just wanted to share a tale from this morning. I was walking my dog around 6am when I noticed two thugs checking their cells constantly at the south end of Leland and Kenmore. Then, they started walking west. When I finished my walk and was heading back to my neighborhood, I saw two females selling crack to a third female in the Sheridan alley south of Leland. I called 911. I turned the corner and saw the buyer also turn the corner so I went back to look at what was happening on Leland. The two thugs, two female sellers, and the prostitute I always see on Leland were all hanging out looking around. They looked directly at me so I turned around quickly and was standing behind the buyer as she actually started smoking her crack pipe. I called 911 again to indicate where the buyer was, the seller was, etc.
This was a somewhat safe corner in the past. Now, it looks like there's constant activity in the early hours. The building on the south end of Leland and Sheridan is vacant and across the street there's several empty forefronts. This could potentially be a safe haven for dealers, crackheads, and prostitutes. We have got to be vigilant here and stop this before it gets bad. People - I urge you - call 911 if you see any suspicious activity anywhere in Uptown, but please pay attention to this strip of Leland as well."

19 comments:

  1. I agree we need to be vigilant! It seems now that the warmer weather is here there all of a sudden is a rise in activity. Tuesday night, I saw three africian-american's completing a deal right in from of the Food Mart on Leland and Broadway. I was going to call 911, but by the time they would of gotten here, everyone was gone. I do plan on attending the next CAPS meeting and bring this issue up. They need to start patrolling these areas more often. Funny thing is that I have not seen the undercover police around lately... where did they go?

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  2. I haven't noticed a lot of police activity lately at all. I did right after the shooting, but not really lately.

    I'm especially concerned about Leland - East of Broadway. My understanding is that some of it is 'neutral territory' and if the prostitutes and dealers are getting business, it may encourage a "turf war."

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  3. "Funny thing is that I have not seen the undercover police around lately"

    This really strikes me as funny! If they're good at being undercover, how would you know if you're seeing them?

    Last night I was out later than usual, and saw lots of prowl cars sitting on corners in my area. Made me wonder if something in particular was going on or if this is standard.

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  4. I too have noticed a big increase in the prostitution in Truman Square, particularly along Leland. Maybe the block club needs to organize positive loitering like they do a little further north. A few nights every week, folks just stand on their corners at the same time late in the evening. Makes the hookers move on.

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  5. I spoke with the cops early this morning and the regular hooker who hangs out on Broadway/Leland is being monitored. They are aware of the times "she" hangs out on that corner (I know I've called 911 many times about her) and are watching her activities so they can catch her in the act.

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  6. I could only think to try and use these corridors as much as possible. Going out to the lakefront? Take Leland. The more "normal" traffic that is around, the less suspicious activity that will occur. Guys were already cracking open a 12-pack of Natural Ice at 8 AM when I pulled out of garage (and they obviously don't know that Milwaukee's Best Ice is a much better tasting and cheaper beer). I drove around the block to go down the alley again and they dispersed my second time through. And, yes, definitely call to report stuff. If they get harrased enough, they might find the only place left to hit the pipe is in front of Helen's office.

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  7. allen & chuck -- you guys rock! i am glad that we are all being proactive. being a young lady, i walk the area quite often -- armed with my dog :) and my cell phone!

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  8. Yes summer time means hot weather and hot crime in our streets and the number on my cell phone will be hot dialing 911 every chance I can get when I see these low-lifes dealing in the streets. Don`t forget to contact www.guardianangles.org also at 312-217-7245 to request their patrols to help with our troubled street. They need some concerned residents requests to get the ball rolling. They have done wonders for high crime areas. Take time and look at their site.......

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  9. Just a reminder, you can communicate with the 911 EMOC office via text messaging.

    http://www.uptownupdate.com/2009/04/did-you-know.html

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  10. Jason----if you don't call 911 to report a problem there isn't a call for service. It would have been perfectly appropriate to call 911 about this transaction.

    I realize that it happens very quickly but you have created a record by calling 911. Like Martha says....it's a good thing.

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  11. You're right, Barry. With the long winter we've had and temperatures quickly rising, this kind of problem is going to escalate very quickly.

    Uptown residents need to be proactive and vigilant, calling 911 when they witness illegal activity. Also, don't be afraid to make your presence known in ways like Jason, Chuck, allenpg and others have described.

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  12. FYI, it is VERY obvious who the undercover police are... we ALL know that the drive in pairs.. and when you see them driving around in a Crown Victoria (same as most police cars) while they wear their bulletproof vest... it does not take a brain surgeon to figure out who the are! I mean come on... are you really blind to the activity around you?

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  13. When I moved here, years ago, the Malden/Magnolia alley had a somewhat 'charming' appeal, in a "Rear Window" kind of way.
    Now? If I open the back door I hear shrieks, fights, bottles being shattered, cars racing to god knows where......it's more like a zoo these days.

    One building was actually launching fireworks against another last month.
    911 is always on the ready.

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  14. Jason, let me tell you a little story. It's a good'un.

    When I first moved into my place in Truman Square, my street was that rarest of animals: tons of parking, any time except concert nights. We were later to find out that this easy parking zone had been duly noted by a ring of thieves, who were stealing cars from dealerships and parking them all along our little street while they waited to move them along.

    On the day of my housewarming party, I was out in front talking to a neighbor. While we were out there, apparently one of the car thieves approached one of the stolen cars and opened the door. All we knew was that there was an explosion of activity along our street. The young man riding his bike suddenly drew his gun and yelled "Police!" So did the mom walking with a stroller. So did the homeless guy sleeping in the loading dock across the street. So did the middle-aged guy in a flannel shirt who'd been working on his car engine.

    It was like something from an action movie. They were all undercover cops who'd been staking out our street all day, just waiting for someone to approach one of the hot cars. Neither my neighbor nor I had a clue that our block was teeming with cops until they all broke cover and ran over to the car thief with their guns drawn and yelling at the top of their lungs.

    It was quite the story to tell at the housewarming party. I knew right then that my life in Uptown would never be boring.

    You see, J, sometimes the undercover cops are REALLY undercover. I can't make any assertions about what's going on now, but I'll reserve judgment on whether or not they're around.

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  15. Great story, TrumanSquareNabr. The police really are everywhere and nowhere, all of the time. Most people don't notice them because the police don't want you to.

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  16. Damn, I live at Kenmore Leland and am missing the crack and the hookers....no wonder I cannot find it on Lawrence any longer....

    But in all seriousness, I have not noticed an uptick. It was FAR worst before they built the building on the northside of Leland (about 6 years ago).

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  17. It could be the times of the day, Todd. I notice nothing after work, but early in the morning - dealers and prostitutes...

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  18. Jason,no offense bud but maybe you shouldn't be so snark when you're entirely wrong. What you described is the Tac Team members, undercovers do not wear vests (at least noticable) nor drive unmarked Crown Vic's. Undercovers most of the time are Narcs or Vice and they are very good at blending in. They do not respond to 911 under almost any situation.

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  19. We are thinking about buying a house on Beacon. The block seems quiet but I noticed a drug deal and people just hanging out on Leland and Malden. We live in Lakeview now and Uptown seems very different!

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