Things have been heating up at local service agencies over the past few days:
• A Crib Youth Shelter client who refused to cooperate with police was transported to Illinois Masonic Medical Center after being beaten near the shelter at 865 W. Addison Wednesday evening.
• Two hours later, around 8:15PM, Crib staff members—who are notoriously unwilling to get police involved in their operations—called 911 to report that a sizable female client was threatening the staff. The situation was resolved using “diplomacy,” police say.
• Yesterday, a 21-year-old man who is currently on parole for robbery and theft was arrested after he allegedly assaulted a staff member at the Center on Halsted.
• Police were called to the Broadway Youth Center last Thursday evening after woman reported that she and her boyfriend had been beaten up by a man who then fled the scene with some of their property. The known suspect is a 24-year-old convicted robbery offender who often lays his head at The Crib.
…and, of course, a man suspected in two arson fires near Belmont and Sheffield this week was arrested Wednesday afternoon inside the Center on Halsted.