Self-defense In The People’s Republic of Chicago

It is becoming more common. Homeowner shoots intruder in Albany Park home invasion

The 46-year-old man heard what appeared to be someone breaking into his home at 4:52 p.m. in the 4800 block of North Kenneth Avenue, according to Chicago police. He went to investigate and was confronted by a 58-year-old man who doesn’t live there.

The would-be bad-guy was shot in the arm and ran away, but was later picked up and taken to a hospital.

And they make a point of noting that the homeowner was licesned to have a gun in his own home. That requirement is one of tne of the many reasons I don’t live in the People’s Republic of Illinois.

Self-defense is a Human-right. The investigation is on-going, because the powers-that-be in Chicago and Cook County would love to charge this guy with something. We can’t allow individual action and individual responsibility!

What Happens When You Don’t Enforce the Law?

You get more law-breaking. Man charged with pepper-spraying his *third* CTA bus driver of the year

You could also file this under “If you give a mouse a cookie, he’s gonna want a glass of milk.”

He first pepper-sprayed a bus driver in March. Then he did it again on September 2nd. Finally 12 days later it was time for number 3.

A Chicago man is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail after he allegedly pepper-sprayed his third CTA bus of the year. Cook County Judge John Lyke also ordered 46-year-old Erick Robie to stay away from CTA property if he can post a 10% deposit bond.

“You gotta walk, or get a car, or Uber or something,” Lyke said.

Hat tip to Second City Cop, who notes that he should have been charged with a felony for the first and second incidents, not a misdemeanors. He terms this “Another Crimesha Failure.” Crimesha being Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.

But Crimesha knows better than the legislature and refused to charge this asshole appropriately.

Anyone know why bus drivers’ Union isn’t raising holy Hell about that?

Columbus Day Weekend in Chicago

HeyJackass! has details. Mostly Peaceful Weekend | Oct 9-11 2020

Given that the statues were peacefully removed and the parade has been cancelled, the resulting peace should yield zeros across the board “until further notice”.

Final Peaceful Tally: 6 killed, 49 wounded [SNIP]
2015 weekend tally: 3 killed, 20 wounded
2014 weekend tally: 3 killed, 22 wounded

How did removing the statues and canceling the parade make your life better?

The numbers for 2020 didn’t quite double the numbers from 2018 and 2019, but it is close. Click thru for the details.

“Remember, it’s only property damage”

Except for the injured police officer, that is. Second City Cop has CWB Video of an escape from Chicago police.

The video is only a couple of minutes and worth a look.

It’s times like this you realize that CPD doesn’t have a single tool available for Patrol Officers to stop a crazed out-of-control driver from running over every cop and citizen on that block. Nor from destroying squad cars and squadrols costing taxpayers many many thousands of dollars.

Unless they shot her of course. Then it’s all “She was unarmed aside from the four-thousand pounds of metal she was killing people with. We better go loot downtown to avenge her.”

In the end, she drove away. Yeah, that will make the city safer.

Chicago Can Burn, But the Mayor Is Safe

More info from Second City Cop: More Short Districts.

He has details on how officers from various districts are being pulled to guard the (formerly) Magnificent Mile. And then there’s this.

And an entire Tact team….a light tact team judging by the number of officers….is at Groot’s house.

This is criminal, a safety hazard and a rip-off for taxpayers who are suffering burglaries, thefts and other property damage at record setting levels.

Ever since protesters had the unmitigated gall to show up in front of Mayor Lori “Groot” Lightfoot’s house, she has insisted that her block have “increased police presence.” The rest of the city be damned.

For the earlier post on this subject see this link, in which SCC explains how this violates the Consent Decree between the Chicago PD and Dept. of Justice. Rules? They don’t apply when a Democrat wants something!

Apparently The Rules Don’t Apply When a Democrat is Involved

I mean be fair; the rules are being ignored because the Mayor said so. Second City Cop: Short Districts

In this case the rules are from a consent decree between the Chicago PD and Department of Justice. And the reason they’re being ignored? The Mayor wants a bunch of cops guarding her home, and a bunch more guarding the (formerly) Magnificent Mile. The rest of the city can burn.

It is hard to excerpt anything that makes sense, because it is all various acronyms, which SCC does explain. Click thru. Though the conclusion isn’t hard to understand. This is for 1 district.

When the early side goes home, instead of 7 cars covering the District until 3rd Watch hits the streets, there are three officers on the street. Three TOTAL. That’s it. How can this even be considered safe?

Anyone think the media will say a word?

The media complain about a Democratic politician mandating that the cops break rules that were mandated by Democratic politicians? Don’t be ridiculous. The rules are in place only to lord it over the PD when the need arises.

Lying Prosecutors

What happens when a State’s Attorney is completely incompetent? Third trial of Jackie Wilson after allegations of torture at the hands of Burge ends stunningly, with judge turning ire toward prosecutors

Professional standards? What are those?

A murder case with decades of baggage — three different trials, a high-profile exoneration, a legacy of police torture — was abruptly dropped this week after allegations that a Cook County prosecutor lied under oath.

And this isn’t the first time that he’s shown a conflict of interest.

The prosecutor, Nick Trutenko, was fired from the office late Thursday after testifying that he had a long-standing relationship with a witness reputed to be an international con man. He returned to court Friday under threat of contempt charges.

The case is long, and dates to the Jon Burge era of Chicago PD. Click through for all of the insanity.

Hat tip to Second City Cop: Great Job Crimesha. That would be Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.

Crimesha’s inability to run any sort of a professional office is one of the greatest crimes perpetrated on Cook County voters. Reading the linked article made us want to throw up with an Assistant States Attorney perjuring himself on the stand.

I don’t know if Justice was served or not in this case. The guy was convicted twice, but then Jon Burge and company did some awful things. You can read about some of them at the following link. The Ongoing Case Against Jon Burge and Chicago Police Corruption

Weekend in Chicago

HeyJackass! has the depressing numbers. Mostly Peaceful Weekend

So how are the powers-that-be, all Democrats, going to blame this on Trump? Because the one thing we know is that they won’t admit it is their fault.

Final Peaceful Tally: 6 killed, 32 wounded
2019 weekend tally: 4 killed, 13 wounded
2018 weekend tally: 5 killed, 15 wounded

There is more history at the link above, and more in general at the whole site.

And here’s “It Ain’t My Fault” for Groot.

But You’re Less Likely to Be Robbed

Chicago has a problem with murder, so they are concentrating on the “good news.” Last month was deadliest September since 1993, but Chicago police point to decreases in other violence crimes

So someone other CWBChicago and HeyJackass! has noticed that Chicago is setting records, and not it good way.

Last month was the deadliest September in Chicago since 1993, though police officials emphasized Thursday that other violent crime dropped from their summer levels.

At least 81 homicides were recorded last month, according to the Police Department’s latest figures. That’s the most for a September since 1993, when there were 83 homicides.

HeyJackass! also shows that carjackings are more than double what they were in 2014, though they don’t break down that data by month.

At least 400 people were shot across the city last month. But the Police Department noted that the number of both shooting incidents and victims was down 19% in September, compared with August. There were also declines in robbery, theft and vehicle theft.

Look and the Bright Side of Life. Or something. Especially if you’re a politician.

Just Another Month in the Windy City? Not Quite

Two stories on the disaster that is Chicago, and 2020 crime Statistics.

Generations worth of improvement gone in a couple of years. September murder tally to be highest in a generation — so city sends more cops to Mag Mile

No one is talking about it — at least not yet — but this month will be the worst September for murder in Chicago since the early 1990s. That sad fact follows closely behind July, one of the single worst months for homicides in the city since modern recordkeeping began during the 1950s. [SNIP]

That number is close to the number of slayings the city saw during the height of the early 1990’s gang wars: 83 murders in September 1990 and September 1993; 85 slain in September 1991; and 109 killed in September 1992, according to CPD records secured by CWBChicago.

At the other extreme, September 2010 had just 30 killings.

There is more on the latest set of boneheaded orders coming from the top brass (and city hall).

People like to blame the Mayor, and certainly Lori “Groot” Lightfoot bears a lot of the blame, but Cook County State’s Attorney Kim “Crimesha” Foxx, and the various judges who keep releasing violent criminals are also to blame.

HeyJackass! brings us a detailed look at the numbers with September Wrap-up.

While May, June & July ended up being “unacceptable”, record breaking months and August provided an ever so slight respite, September pulls a “hold my beer” and puts up totals rivaling the early 90s.

September 2020: 83 killed, 324 wounded
September 2019: 54 killed, 212 wounded

Click thru for a complete breakdown of things like race/gender of victim, how many were shot by police, and more. You will also find the end-of-the-year predictions.

Crime in the big cities was down. Substantially down in Chicago, and in New York City. But then all the “get tough on crime” measures from the late 1980s and early 1990s were deemed to be “unfair.” Witness the result. Now I’m no apologist for cops, but you need to preserve law and order.

Mother Kills Her Daughter

Weep for the state of the culture. No charges yet filed in girl’s East Garfield Park stabbing death; grandfather claims mother is suspect

East Garfield Park is one of the 77 neighborhoods in Chicago.

Charges have not yet been filed in the death of a 5-year-old girl, who was allegedly fatally stabbed by her own mother in East Garfield Park Saturday morning.

The young girl’s grandfather claims his 27-year-old daughter is responsible for fatally stabbing her daughter on Chicago’s West Side.

There are few details, and the usual shocked neighbors.

Hat tip to Second City Cop, in a way, though he references a story with even fewer details. The March to 600

The media says “stabbed.” We have two e-mails saying the only thing keeping this poor baby’s head attached was her spinal column – after Mommy cut her neck almost all the way through. Hopefully the Department is offering the Officers the appropriate counseling services after having to see that. Paramedics and Firefighters, too.

The 600 number references the number of murders in Chicago so far this year. As of 7 AM this morning, HeyJackass! puts the number at 592.

Just Another Weekend in the Windy City

HeyJackass! brings us the details on Chicago’s Mostly Peaceful Weekend.

Final Peaceful Tally: 11 killed, 43 wounded
2019 weekend tally: 2 killed, 18 wounded
2018 weekend tally: 7 killed, 14 wounded

Citizens Lose Faith In Chicago

They don’t believe the “authorities” can keep them safe. Probably they have good reason. Community activists call on Lightfoot to give kids bulletproof backpacks amid Chicago gun violence

Some community activists in Chicago want children to carry bulletproof backpacks in an effort to stem the growing number of young gun violence victims.

This is after another child, 8-year-old Dajore Wilson was killed by gunman while she was riding in the back of her parents’ car.

Hat tip to Second City Cop – Desperate Measures, who notes…

Groot is looking to set records as a baby-killer, assisted by the useless Crimesha who keeps releasing gun offenders, knife offenders and every manner of killer she can find.

Post Office Casualties in Chicago

Out-of-control violence can’t be ignored by the people who work in the cities where the violence has been allowed to spread. Chicago Mail Carriers Threaten To Stop Delivering Mail If City Fails To Control Violence

“The 24-year-old woman, who works as a United States Postal Service mail carrier, was shot at 91st Street and Ellis Avenue just after 11:35 a.m. while on the job,” ABC 7 Chicago reported earlier in September. “Chicago Fire Department officials said she was critically hurt after being shot multiple times.”

The mail carrier was not the shooting’s intended target, Chicago police officials said, but her southside route put her in the middle of a neighborhood wracked by gun violence. She is, ABC 7 added, the second mail carrier wounded by gunfire while walking her route.

Mayor Groot, also known as Lori Lightfoot, will no doubt say it is “unfair.” But some would say that about the way she has Chicago PD protecting her home. (Hat tip to Whatfinger News)

The History of Corruption in Chicago

A few days ago, I had a post on Corruption in Chicago. A statistic was quoted, and I had to track down an actual reference. Not that I don’t trust people, but I have found that people don’t trust me, unless I have a “legitimate source.” Though I’m not sure you can say that any of the news media qualifies these days. Still, here’s a reference from last year.

Alderman being investigated, and convicted is nothing new in The Windy City. EDITORIAL: Don’t back off, Mayor-elect Lightfoot, in ending aldermanic prerogative
By CST Editorial Board May 15, 2019, 3:41pm CDT

I hate to keep picking on Chicago, but they make it so damn easy.

The story/editorial isn’t important at this remove, and it’s behind a paywall anyway, but the point is they document the history of corruption in the city. Or part of it anyway.

The Chicago City Council blew its chance to be treated like responsible adults a long time ago.

Why do we think Chicago’s patience with aldermanic prerogative has finally run out?

Because Ald. Cochran pleaded guilty in March [of 2019].

Because Ald. Burke was named in a criminal complaint in January.

Because Ald. William Beavers was convicted in 2013.

Because Ald. Isaac “Ike” Carothers pleaded guilty in 2010.

Because Ald. Arenda Troutman pleaded guilty in 2008.

Because Ald. James Laski pleaded guilty in 2006.

Because Ald. Percy Giles was convicted in 1999.

Because Ald. Virgil Jones was convicted in 1998.

Because Ald. Larry Bloom pleaded guilty in 1998.

Because Ald. John Madrzyk was convicted in 1998.

Because Ald. Jesse Evans was convicted in 1997.

Because Ald. Joseph Martinez was convicted in 1997.

Because Ald. Allan Streeter pleaded guilty in 1996.

Because Ald. Ambrosio Medrano pleaded guilty in 1996.

Because Ald. Fred Roti was convicted in 1993.

Because Ald. Marian Humes pleaded guilty in 1998.

Because Ald. Perry Hutchinson was convicted in 1988.

Because Ald. Chester Kuta pleaded guilty in 1987.

Because Ald. Wallace Davis Jr. was convicted in 1987.

Because Ald. Cliff Kelley pleaded guilty in 1987.

Because Ald. Louis Farina was convicted in 1983.

Because Ald. Tyrone Kenner was convicted in 1983.

Because Ald. William Carothers was convicted in 1983.

Because Ald. Stanley Zydlo pleaded guilty in 1980.

Because Ald. Edward Scholl pleaded guilty in 1975.

Because Ald. Donald Swinarski pleaded guilty in 1975

Because Ald. Paul Wigoda was convicted in 1974

Because Ald. Tom Keane was convicted in 1974.

Because Ald. Frank Kuta was convicted in 1974.

Because Ald. Joe Potempa pleaded guilty in 1973.

Because Ald. Casimir Staszcuk was convicted in 1973.

Because Ald. Joe Jambrone was convicted in 1973.

Because Ald. Fred Hubbard pleaded guilty in 1972.

And those were just the crooks that got caught.

And those are all Democratic politicians in a city and county dominated by Democratic politicians. And where the fix is in. Probably why a fair few were taken down by the feds.

There are other politicians, not all aldermen of course, who got caught doing something they shouldn’t have been doing. Matthew J. Danaher had been clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County since 1968, when he was found dead in a hotel room of “natural causes” at the age of 47. A long-time associate of Mayor Daley, the elder, he had been indicted in a $400,000 kickback scheme. Danaher was awaiting trial. David J. Shields was convicted for taking $6,000 in bribes in 1988 to fix a court case.

There was Tony Rezko, who Obama managed to shed, even though the shady real estate deal between Rezko and Obama is legendary in Chicago.

Then there was Operation Greylord from the 1980s.

It was called Operation Greylord, named after the curly wigs worn by British judges. And in the end—through undercover operations that used honest and very courageous judges and lawyers posing as crooked ones… and with the strong assistance of the Cook County court and local police—92 officials had been indicted, including 17 judges, 48 lawyers, eight policemen, 10 deputy sheriffs, eight court officials, and one state legislator. Nearly all were convicted, most of them pleading guilty.

So as you can see, Chicago is not populated by the most ethical politicians in the universe.

Self-defense in The Windy City?

Stranger things have happened. Woman claiming self-defense released from custody in fatal Park Manor stabbing.

A woman was released from police custody after citing self-defense in the fatal stabbing of a 42-year-old man during a domestic argument Sunday on the South Side.

After being choked and fearing for her life, the woman went to the kitchen of a Park Manor home and grabbed a knife, Chicago police said.

Use the tool you have on hand.

So the cops released her, but my guess is that this is one case that Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, better known as Crimesha in certain circles, will want to pursue. Can’t have people believing that they can take individual action and exercise individual responsibility. They might decide that the bureaucrats are not needed.

Self-defense is a human-right, but it may or may not be your legal right in Chicago.

What Was I Saying About Chicago Corruption?

Don’t make no waves. Don’t back no losers. (Lessons from the Original Daley.) Payback: Judge who ordered Smollett special prosecutor NOT endorsed for re-election by county Democrats

The judge who appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the Jussie Smollett matter, including what role State’s Attorney Kim Foxx played in the case, will not be recommended for re-election by the Cook County Democratic Party.

Party officials claimed the decision to not endorse 40-year veteran judge Michael Toomin stems from his performance as chief judge of the county’s juvenile court division.

Of course it is. It couldn’t possibly be that they are pissed he shined a light on some corruption. My previous post on Chicago Corruption is at this link.

Chicago Corruption

Explained in passing. Da Tech Guy – Update on the continuing Illinois Exodus

Since 1973 over thirty members of Chicago City Council have been sentenced to prison. At one time he was the city’s most powerful alderman, but now Ed Burke is under indictment for allegedly shaking down a fast food franchisee. Do you want to bring your business to Chicago? You may have to endure having your pockets picked by a pol. Or by several of them.

Where do I sign up?

Burke has been an alderman since 1969. Chicago needs term limits. And so does Illinois. Boss Michael Madigan, who is from the same part of the city as Burke, has been speaker of the state House since 1983 except for two years in the 1990s when the Republicans had a majority in the lower chamber. Madigan is also a Chicago ward committeeman. He’s been chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party since 1997. Illinois’ most powerful Dem is also currently under investigation as part of an evolving federal corruption probe that has already ended the careers of several Chicago and suburban politicians.

When I first ran across Da Tech Guy, the “Da” didn’t make sense. But Dese guys, does guys, and dem guys are all from Chicago. Like Da Bulls, or Da Mayor.

It wasn’t so very long ago that I loved that city, and spent most weekends, and not a few weeknights, at clubs in the city. Kaboom was legendary. And a couple of Saturdays every month, I would ride a train into the loop, have breakfast at my favorite bagel place (does anyone hand-roll bagels anymore?) and spend the morning wandering around the Art Institute. Looking at Man Ray’s chess set or Chagall’s Windows, or Picasso’s early period.

Now, you couldn’t pay me to go into the city.

There is a lot more at the Da Tech Guy’s post. Taxes. Pensions. Downstate corruption. Downstate problems. It’s worth a look if you want to see where Democratic policies take a city in a few decades.

Another Affordable-bail Gone-wrong Story

More men charged with shooting people while free bail for gun charges.

A West Side man who was on electronic home monitoring for allegedly possessing a stolen firearm as a felon, shot five people Saturday, killing two of them, according to prosecutors.

And as I’ve mentioned before, if you ignore the data, then everything looks good.

For example, Jordan — who allegedly shot five and killed two over the weekend — does not qualify for Foxx’s re-offender count because his pending gun case began before January 1 and, additionally, the alleged murders happened after June 30.

CWBChicago researchers continue to find cases that seem to paint a questionable picture of the county’s bail program’s success with accused gun offenders.

Click thru for that story. I’m sure there will be more in the days and weeks ahead.

My previous post on the subject is at this link.

Affordable Bail Works as Long as You Ignore the Data

A politician wouldn’t LIE, would they? More murder cases raise questions about officials’ bond court success stories

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, known as Crimesha to Second City Cop (link in the sidebar), loves bail reform.

As we reported Tuesday, Foxx is driving the re-offend statistic down by creating a tight window of opportunity for someone to get caught with another gun.

So the program looks like it’s working, as long as you exclude the data that shows it isn’t.

A gun crime, namely felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, resulted in the first guy having to pay 200 bucks to get out of jail. He was eventually given a curfew, not that that mattered to anyone, least of all the bad-guy.

Stidhum violated his curfew again the very next night and 16 more times during the month of June alone, according to court records. But officials didn’t do anything about it.

On July 16, Stidhum shot and killed 23-year-old Tavion Edwards as the man rode his motorcycle in Lawndale, prosecutors say. Patrol officers heard the gunfire and arrested Stidhum as he ran down a nearby alley. Cops said they found a gun in Stidhum’s pants.

Even though he was out on bail, and had violated the terms of his release a bunch of times, the murder he committed, allegedly, doesn’t count on Crimesha’s stats because it didn’t happen right away. Yeah, that makes sense.

Click thru for the rest.

So yeah, you can prove just about anything you want to prove if you ignore the data that doesn’t help your cause.

In case you’ve been living under a rock this summer, Chicago has a crime problem. Murders and shootings have been through the roof, and the looting isn’t helping things. And while it doesn’t get the attention it deserves, carjacking is surging in a big way this year.