Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Large-Scale Drug Bust On Argyle Monday

From Ald. Osterman in a special newsletter:

"Yesterday, the Chicago Police Department successfully completed a takedown mission that resulted in the arrests of 16 individuals who were involved in narcotics sales in the Argyle street area.  A number of these individuals were gang members who have been involved with the violence that has plagued this part of our community and were cited for selling narcotics within 1000 feet of Goudy and McCutcheon Schools.  4 businesses were also cited or closed as a result of this police operation.

This is the Quik Stop convenience store
at Argyle and Sheridan
(Photo courtesy of 48th Ward newsletter)
This police operation is an important step to improving the safety on and around Argyle street.  A safe Argyle area is important for the entire community.  I would like to specifically thank the vigilant residents that continued to call 911 and reported activity they witnessed, your efforts greatly assisted the police.

I would also like to thank Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, Commander Sean Loughran of the 20th District, Commander Thomas Waldera from Narcotics, and Commander Ken Angarone from the Vice Division for their dedicated work in this operation. In addition I would like to extend my sincerest thank you to the Chicago Police officers on the street who have helped make this safety initiative a success.

The 20th District will have additional resources in the area over the next several weeks.  It is extremely important for all of us to play a role and get involved with the process going forward with these arrests.  Please continue to call 911 for any crimes you may witness in the area.  You may also reach out to the 20th Police District with any questions or comments.  They can be reached at caps.020district@chicagopolice.org or 312-742-8770.

I also ask neighbors to be court advocates to represent their community in these cases. Being an advocate sends a clear message to those arrested and to the courts that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in our community.  It is imperative that we all come together to strengthen our neighborhood for the better. If you are interested in becoming a court advocate please contact Marko Zaric from my office.  He can be reached at marko@48thward.org or 773-784-5277.

Please join us for positive loitering on Wednesday 4/27 on Argyle and Kenmore at 6:00pm and on Friday 4/29 on Argyle and Broadway at 6:00pm."

Update: Here's more, from the CPD:
click to enlarge
Update: Many have wondered about the businesses that were closed/cited. In his follow-up newsletter, Ald. Osterman says, "Four businesses also were closed or cited as a result of this police operation. The businesses closed were the QuickStop at 5000 N. Sheridan Rd., Mobile 2 Go at 1126 W. Argyle and the Granville Food Mart at 1158 W. Granville. The cited business was J&A Convenience Store at 1108 W. Argyle."

17 comments:

  1. Anyone know what businesses (other than the Quick Stop, pictured above) were closed, and why?

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    1. I'd also like to know what other businesses were closed. I've also been suspicious of EZ8 Electronics at 5045 N. Sheridan. I haven't seen a customer in there in a decade, and the one time I went there looking for an audio cable I was told "no, we don't have that" and hurried out of the store.

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    2. Yeah, similar experience for us. Its either a very unprofitable business or a front for the Yakuza. Either way, not a huge plus for the community.

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  2. Anyone else have issues with the police when calling in about "possible gang activity" in our area? The last few times I got a sassy lady who got very indignant and basically hung up on me. I tried to tell her that our neighborhood has gang issues and we were encouraged to call the cops when we see loitering by large groups in known gang hangouts and yet she still didn't give a shit. Anybody else have this happen? It happened a few times to me now.

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    1. I've always had a good response. I don't tell them there is "possible gang activity" though. I explain to them which crimes are being broken, that they are "in progress", and I give descriptions and I leave my name and number so the police can call me when they arrive if they need more info.

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    2. I want to know the businesses too....cannot be the restaurants.

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  3. Let's just hope those 16 arrested are not bonded out back into the hood in a couple of hours. Let's also hope that if they're convicted they'll serve lengthy prison sentences.

    But I'm probably just dreaming....

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  4. I'm so sorry to be so jaded--NOT--but where's the surprise? I'm glad they are caught and I hope that they serve a long time behind bars.... And no, I do not care to see an 8 year old picture of their cap and gown...

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  5. This congregation of homeless beggars and gangbangers has been an issue for over 10 years and it's still happening. We get promised the Moon and the Stars but all we get is Lip Service. Where are these "Street Patrols" we were promised?

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    1. Sweetheart if you must know the truth....Some of these people have been in This neighborhood for more than 50 yrs.....Some of these people are not horrible people ...Alot of these people had Jobs and lifes.....I DO Not condone cocaine,herione,or other drug use but I think maybe We could enrich our communities instead of dividing them....Talk to the beggers some of them Served our Country....They shouldn't offend u unless you fear that could be u.. Alot of them Chicago Natives. A few bad apples true but very few. .....

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  6. I'm done calling police they never do anything. Onr blamed Thomas Dart for lrtting criminals go. Idk

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  7. "Anyone else have issues with the police when calling in about "possible gang activity" in our area?"

    Yes.

    Female 311 operator acted annoyed and wanted my name and number.

    Think I surprised her when gave them to her, but I could tell my 911 request was gonna get forgotten as soon as we hung up.

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    1. The police have coming each and every time I've called (and I've called a lot). Most of the time they come within 15-30 mins, but they do come.

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  8. So the business that was ordered closed...does it remain closed..or can they reopen after a period of time?

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  9. Until they announced that the top dogs are napped I don't have any faith that drugs and crimes will disappear in Uptown. These 16 arrested today will be replaced.

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  10. If the "top dogs" are nailed, all that will happen is another gang war to establish who will be the new owner of the recently-vacated "turf".

    As long as the north town area is heavily populated by gang members and their families, someone, actually many, many someones, will eagerly step forward to fill the vacancies created, and there will be no peace on Earth, or at least the far north side, until "ownership" is settled.

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  11. I guess whatever the violation is was resolved because quick stop are back in business . Just saw the store open for business with the same people manning the store.

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