North Avenue Beach Assaults?

I've been hearing rumors that North Avenue Beach was closed do to out of control thugs and gangbangers groping and assaulting people, not due to heat, as has been widely reported. Rumors of cyclists knocked from their bikes... I know a few cyclists were picked up and dropped in the lake by some thugs early last month. The sources are somewhat suspect, but I wanted to know if anyone had heard or experienced anything. Generally my least favorite part of the trail, but I'm debating whether to avoid it completely this summer. As the CPD is undergoing regime change, we should be diligent about reporting incidents like this, even if front-line CPD staff are dismissive... so that resources get allotted appropriately.

Tags: assaults, crime, lakefront, path

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Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on June 6, 2011 at 4:32pm

That is really an excellent writeup with excellent advice, Anne-- thanks for spreading it around.

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Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on June 6, 2011 at 5:36pm

Anne,

What day/time of day was the mob in described article? I agree there have been issues, but the one descrived by the writer would have to have been noticed by a fellow chainlinker. As a regular user of the LFP, I'm sure even if I wasn't there for this storm, I would have noticed it brewing.

Don't get me wrong, a mob of 10 youths beating people up is BAD. It just looks like this article is maybe overblown?

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 6, 2011 at 5:40pm

Yes, people need to know. Mornings seem to be okay, but afternoons and evenings are up for grabs.

Please share this info with folks you know. I'd rather have people be aware and stay safe than hear about increasing numbers of victims.

I think that a pressure campaign (letters and phone calls) is in order. Contact your alderman and express your opinion about the need to support CPD and restore order and safety. I think the mayor and superintendent need to hear this message, too.

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Permalink Reply by Joel on June 6, 2011 at 5:43pm

Water Tower Place and Nordstroms both said they had unruly mobs of teens shoplifting. Someone was attacked in front of Northwestern Medical in broad daylight. They shut down all of North Ave. Beach one day. If anything, I would say the stories aren't getting enough press.

in it to win it said:

Anne,

What day/time of day was the mob in described article? I agree there have been issues, but the one descrived by the writer would have to have been noticed by a fellow chainlinker. As a regular user of the LFP, I'm sure even if I wasn't there for this storm, I would have noticed it brewing.

Don't get me wrong, a mob of 10 youths beating people up is BAD. It just looks like this article is maybe overblown?

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Permalink Reply by A. B. on June 6, 2011 at 5:47pm

See my video earlier in the thread to see what it looked like around 7pm before things got out of hand at Oak St.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 6, 2011 at 5:54pm

In response to in it to win it, unfortunately, the article is not overblown. The incidents described in the message passed along via Evanston Bike Club and the news articles happened Friday 6/3 thru yesterday (Sunday 6/5). This incidents can pop up very quickly and dissipate quickly. One incident might be 8-10 thugs. Another might be dozens or hundreds.

I'm not sure about the time of day of the Friday incident, but from the accounts I've been hearing from police officers (directly and via Second City Cop), I'd guess that it was afternoon or evening. If you were there 1/2 hour earlier or later, you might have missed it entirely.

Until the last 2 years, there weren't frequent incidents like this in Streeterville or on this section of the lakefront. They've become an increasingly regular occurrence, and they're unpredictable.

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Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on June 6, 2011 at 5:58pm

I'll corroborate Anne's corroboration. We both know a cop who has been assigned to the area in question for the last 8 years or so-- great guy and a "straight shooter" (so to speak.) We're not talking about random comments from some cop sitting in a squad car in some other part of the city.

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Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on June 6, 2011 at 6:15pm

OK, I'm in.

Solution(s)?

I don't like the idea of giving in because of these aholes.

Will mayor/chief of police give an audience?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C on June 6, 2011 at 6:53pm

I'll corroborate Howard's corroboration of Anne's corroboration, and raise you one... At whatever level up the food chain you want an audience-they already know-and they're concerned.

in it to win it said:

OK, I'm in.

Solution(s)?

I don't like the idea of giving in because of these aholes.

Will mayor/chief of police give an audience?

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Permalink Reply by Joe Sak on June 6, 2011 at 7:07pm

Moving my opinion from Shay's note to here:

I don't agree with passing laws for police to declare illegal gatherings, no thanks on that one.

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on June 6, 2011 at 7:09pm

in it to win it,

Here's a start:

http://www.thechainlink.org/events/mayors-bicycle-advisory-5

Notice the description is "Quarterly meeting of groups that effect Chicago bicycle legislation, planning and safety." (italics mine)

in it to win it said:

OK, I'm in.

Solution(s)?

I don't like the idea of giving in because of these aholes.

Will mayor/chief of police give an audience?

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on June 6, 2011 at 7:58pm

I have no particular confidence in the awesome crime fighting powers of CPD. I do have confidence in the awesome ability of urban politicians to drop the hammer when black teenagers threaten rich people. By all means people should keep their wits about them, steer clear of groups of dozens of surly teenagers and get in touch with their aldermen about this, but I would happily take the wrong side of 3-1 odds that there will be no significant year-over-year increase in crime in Streeterville and River North this summer.

Illegal gatherings laws won't work, by the way. Stop-and-frisk is pretty effective.

Joe Schmoe said:

CPD is like 3,500 officers short of full strength, with less than 100 cadets in the academy. Wildings and Flash mobs have been common in Streeterville and River North for 2 years now. There were 4 random attacks on people in River North on Saturday night alone. Jody Weiss turned over a CPD officer to an FBI civil rights commision when he was commish a few years back (Bill Cozzi), and ever since the cops are reticent to put their foot down and actively police. They pretty much just come when they're called now, they don't try to pro-actively break anything up. Where did this sudden awe of the crime-fighting power of the CPD suddenly come from?