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| (L to R): Garcia, Andrews, and Cazadero. (Cook Co. Sheriff’s Office, Facebook) |
UPDATED 5:28PM: Added alderman’s email statement.
UPDATE NOV 7 1:36PM: Updated bond information and minor details in this post.
UPDATE NOV 7: A further update is now posted.
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Here’s an update on last night’s alleged gang incident in nearby Lake View. A member of the Latin Eagles gang told police that a Spanish Gangster Disciple opened fire on him in the 1400 block of Warner. No one was shot and none of the arrestees has been charged or implicated in the actual shooting.
A police source has told CWB that the incident is probably tied to a flare-up of gang rivalries at Lake View High School.
None of the arrestees are LVHS students, but the rivalries run deep and wide—far beyond the school grounds.
Three men, all of whom have had serious brushes with the law, face reckless conduct charges in connection with last night’s incidents:
• Arthur Andrews, 23, of Melrose Park, a Latin Eagle according to police, is free on a $10,000 I-Bond.
• Luis J. Garcia, 26, of the 2900 block of Irving Park Road in the North Center neighborhood, is held on $10,000 bond. Police say he is a Spanish Gangster Disciple and, judging by the pitchfork tattoo on his forehead, we’d tend to agree.
• Marcos Cazadero, whose age has been given as 18 and 20, of the 2200 block of N. Central in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood is also a Spanish Gangster Disciple, according to police. He is also free on $10,000 bond.
An unnamed juvenile was also arrested.
As officers searched for suspects after shots were fired in the 1400 block of Warner around 9:40PM, they saw a white van attempt to strike a bicyclist at Greenview and Irving Park Road. According to police, officers say Garcia get out of the van with a 2-by-4 with Cazadero and the juvenile following behind him.
An officer pursued Garcia and took him into custody while Cazdero, the juvenile fled in the van, which was driven by a 21-year-old who has not been charged. The driver is also a Spanish Gangster Disciple, according to police.
Police eventually stopped the van near the Ravenswood Metra Station and took two occupants into custody: Cazadero and an unnamed juvenile who is a Spanish Gangster Disciple.
Cook County Criminal Court records show that all three of the adult arrestees currently face or have faced serious criminal charges.
Cazadero has a pending case in Cook County in which he faces 10 separate weapons violations. Chicago cops allege that Cazadero was in a vehicle that committed numerous traffic violations in a Portage Park “conflict zone…known for a high level of violence and shootings.” Cops say they found a loaded .38-caliber handgun in Cazadero’s pants leg during a pat-down.
Garcia, charged as an adult in 2003, pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery and received 2 years probation.
Andrews was charged as an adult in a 2008 armed robbery. He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and was given two years probation. In 2010, he was sentenced to a 2-year prison term for being a gang member in possession of a firearm. He also had a battery/aggravated assault/unlawful use of a weapon/mob action case brought against him in Franklin Park this year. He pleaded guilty to one count of battery and the other charges were dropped. He’s due in court for a “progress report” on January 15.
Statement From Alderman’s Office
Alderman Ameya Pawar’s office issued the following statement at 4:45 this afternoon:
Good Afternoon,
I want to update you on the events that happened last night near Clark and Southport. Please share this information with neighbors or other concerned residents and ask that they call 911 if they see any suspicious or criminal activity in the neighborhood.
Our office was first alerted to the shots fired incident around 11pm last night. I have been working with the community and police department to piece together the series of events here and give an official account of what happened last night since 5:30 this morning. Below, is a summary of events based on the report we received from Commander Voulgaris in the 19th District.
1. Numerous calls were made to 911 to report the shooting and officers were dispatched at 9:39pm.
2. Two beat patrol cars from Beat 1911 and Beat 1923 responded and were the first on the scene at 9:45pm.
3. 1911 stopped individuals at 1426 W Warner and 1923 stopped individuals at Clark and Southport.
4. 1923 began to search the area and arrested an individual running through gangways. This is individual is a known Latin Eagle who claimed he was shot at (not hit) by a Spanish Gangster Disciple. Ten (10), 9mm casings were found on the ground around 1454 W Warner.
5. Later, a beat car (1921R) observed a white van travelling southbound on Greenview in the area of shots fired. The driver of the van attempted to strike an unknown bicyclist at Greenview and Irving, at which time a passenger got out with a wooden board. Officers on Beat 1921R gave chase to this offender and placed him under arrest. Two other subjects fled in the van.
6. Beat 1912 saw the flash alert message once the van had fled the scene and stopped the van at Lawrence and Wolcott. Both subjects were placed under arrest.
As a result of community’s calls to 911 and subsequent patrol by the police, the Chicago Police Department was able to arres [sic] three adults and one juvenile. None of these individuals is from the area and one has a home address in Melrose Park. It is currently believed that, although none arrested are students at Lake View High School, that this incident is tied to tensions around Lake View High School. There was a much larger gang presence in this area in the past, but some of these tensions continue and seem to have contributed to the incident that occurred last night. While we have seen a dramatic decrease in the level of gang activity at and around the school over the past two decades, it is important to continue being mindful of this type of activity and to keep eyes on the street and call if you ever see anything of concern.
In the wake of the incident we will be taking the following steps.
1. Commander Voulgaris has assigned tactical officers to provide extra patrol and support to the regular patrol cars in the area, and will be in the area personally to oversee operations.
2. Commander Voulgaris has directed his school officers to monitor activity at Lake View High School. He has also requested a meeting with Principal Grens to discuss the matter further and talk through the possible connection to LVHS and how the school can help the police monitor this activity.
3. Our office is also going to work with those responsible for care of Warner Garden Park on possible safety improvements there. We are still in the very early stages of reaching out to them and will know more on this at a later date.
Please call 911 if you see any suspicious or criminal activity in the neighborhood. Sometimes people are hesitant to contact 911 because they don’t feel it rises to that level, but it is best to let dispatchers and police make that determination. If you ever feel that response is inadequate, please let us know and we will troubleshoot with the police. I have copied Commander Voulgaris on this email [Link added in lieu of email copy – Ed.]. Please feel free to reach out to him or me with any further questions.
The safety of our community is of paramount importance, and we will continue doing everything we can to ensure that the 47th Ward remains one of the safest places in Chicago.
Take Care,
Chief of Staff
Email From School Council
Before the alderman’s statement was released, Arnold Davis, a member of LVHS’ local school council emailed us:
Lake View High School has communicated with the Chicago Police Department to learn as much as possible regarding this incident to ensure student and neighborhood safety. At this time, the Chicago Police Department has indicated that this neighborhood incident does not involve Lake View High School.
