My Blog

Tag: Anita Alvarez

  • Chicago Man, 80, Charged After Shooting Burglar

    Neighbors say they’re “outraged” that an 80-year-old owner of a local tavern has been charged after shooting a burglar who broke into his home in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side.

    “What does it say to me and other senior citizens that we will be arrested if we defend ourselves?” asked Anita Dominique, head of the block club in the neighborhood. “This is an outrage.”

    Police say Homer Wright was inside his home in the 6400 block of South Morgan Street about 6:30 a.m. Monday when someone broke through several boards and entered through a rear bathroom window and tried to steal some liquor. Wright grabbed a handgun and shot the burglar in the lower right leg, police said.

    Anthony Robinson, 19, of the 6000 block of South Wood Street, was charged with felony burglary after he was treated at St. Bernard Hospital and Health Care Center and released.

    Wright was charged with one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon after police discovered he had two prior weapons convictions from 1968 and 1994, officials said. Records show Wright also was convicted of theft in 1990. Wright turned his gun over to detectives.

    via Chicago Tribune.

    This is kinda a fine line here.  If Mr. Wright is really a felon, then he probably shouldn’t be handling any firearms.  But as a society we need to face up to the fact that the police cannot be everywhere and as it turns out Mr. Wright does have a very real need to be able to defend himself.

    What I wonder is why throw the book at Mr. Wright and not the countless gang bangers running around with guns?  I still want to know how many weapons possession cases Anita Alvarez has referred to the fed’s for prosecution.

  • Chicago: 1 Night, 8 Shot, 2 Dead

    A 22-year-old man was fatally shot in a Far South Side liquor store Saturday evening, police said, and a 46-year-old man was killed about 45 minutes later.

    At least six others were shot on the South and West sides overnight.

    via Chicago Tribune.

    While notable, not a record.

    At the time of the story, 36 hours ago, there was no word from the mayor about how he was going to stop the carnage.  Today there was news on that:

    One week after dozens of people were shot in a deadly outburst of street violence, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police Superintendent Garry McCarthy sought Monday to assure the public they are focused on combating gang crime.

    The announcement of a gang crackdown on the West Side was the first joint appearance by Emanuel and McCarthy since news broke that 10 people were fatally shot over the March 17-18 weekend, including a 6-year-old girl. Police say gangs are largely responsible for the violent start to 2012 in Chicago, which has seen fatal and nonfatal shootings on the rise.

    via Chicago Tribune.

    Good luck.  My guess is that you’re going to have to get about 1,500 new kids into the police academy.  That would really put more cops on the street.  All the cops I know can’t get too wrapped-up in gang matters because they spend every shift running from call to call to call to call.  Cops on the street need to have a little down time to work the issue on the streets, cultivate contacts, bring in informants, and keep the little kids out of trouble.  Right now there’s just no time for any of that.

    And then we have to look at Anita Alvarez, and the elected judges of Cook County.  The message needs to be sent that if you’re a gang-banger and get caught you’re going to do serious time.  Every weapons possession by a felon needs to be referred to the U.S. Attorney’s office for federal prosecution.

    Eventually the gang will get the message… but you can’t send this message when you’re short 1,500 people.

  • 8 Shot on South, West sides Overnight

    6:00 a.m. CDT, March 11, 2012

    At least eight people were shot Saturday night and Sunday morning on the South and West sides, according to police.

    via Chicago Tribune.

    Eight in one night.  It appears that all the criminals are willing to carry despite all the laws Rahm et. al. keep passing.  So what are the innocent to do?

    -=-=-

    One day I’m going to investigate how Anita Alvarez prosecutes these cases.  My guess is that we have all these guns laws and none are being applied.

  • Criminal Justice System Failing

    A man who knocked out a woman’s teeth in the South Loop in 2008 when she refused to give him a cigarette became violent again, according to police, this time beating up his longtime female companion.

    The latest attack took place Monday night in the Lawndale neighborhood on the West Side, police said.

    It was his fifth arrest since late last year. All five resulted in only misdemeanor charges.

    Derrick King, 50, was booked into Cook County Jail today after a Domestic Court judge set a $20,000 bail for him on a charge of misdemeanor domestic battery, said a Cook County Sheriff’s office spokeswoman.

    via Chicago Tribune.

    Why is this guy still on the streets?

    I think it’s time to break-out the torches and pitchforks and find Anita Alvarez.