* Harwood Heights Police Department…
On 30 Aug. 2023 at 6:37AM, Harwood Heights Police Officers responded to the 4400 block of Natchez for a female victim lying in the street. Responding officers found the 61 year old female victim unresponsive with a zip tie around her neck impeding her breathing. Officers removed the zip tie and began CPR, subsequently the victim was transported to Lutheran General Hospital and is currently in critical condition on life support.
Eye witness, informed officers that he heard “grunts” and observed a male white subject, wearing black hoodie on top of a female victim. who was lying on the ground next to a vehicle with the vehicle door and the trunk open. The male subject then entered the driver’s seat of the vehicle: Blue Toyota Scion and quickly drove off S/B Natchez Ave.
Once the officers learned that victim’s vehicle was missing, they quickly disseminated the information via LEADS/ISPERN and entered vehicle information into Flock - License Plate Reader system as a stolen vehicle. At 0915hrs, officers received an alert via Flock system that the vehicle was recorded on a PR camera in Crete, IL. Crete Police were notified and at 09:36AM, the vehicle was located and the offender was taken into custody by Crete police officers without an incident. The victim’s vehicle and the offender were both transported to the HHPD.
Further investigation revealed a Ring camera video from 6400 block of Sunnyside, (approx. 1 block from the scene) which captured at 6:29AM, an image of a malewhite subject walking in the direction where the incident took place. The image strongly resembled the offender and matched the clothing the offender was wearing at the time of the arrest by Crete Police Department.
The offender was read his Miranda warning which he waived and provided a statement confessing to the crime.
Cook County State’s Attorney reviewed the case and approved two Felony Charges:
1. Attempt First Degree Murder
2. Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking.
On Sep. 1st, 2023, the offender appeared in Rolling Meadows Bond Court, where the presiding judge DENIED BAIL.
The offender will remain in custody of the Cook County jail until his next court date: Sep. 22nd, 2023.
The victim later died.
* The Law Enforcement Agencies Data System, or LEADS, is run by the Illinois State Police and “allows access to Criminal History Information, Hot Files and Interdepartmental Messaging as well as an access portal to the Secretary of State Drivers License and Vehicle Database, NCIC [National Crime Information Center] and other Federal Databases.” ISPERN is the Illinois State Police Emergency Radio Network. Information on the Flock license plate reader system and its LPR cameras is here.
A good eyewitness, combined with quick and strong police work and the proper use of technology resulted in an apprehension within 3 hours of an absolutely hideous crime.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 10:45 am:
==where the presiding judge DENIED BAIL==
So then the SAFE-T Act doesn’t result in everyone being released into the street? I thought the world as we knew it was coming to an end.
- thisjustinagain - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 10:45 am:
The victim has since died, apparently of injuries suffered during the carjacking. https://wgntv.com/news/woman-beaten-during-harwood-heights-carjacking-dies/
- Amalia - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 10:45 am:
thank you to law enforcement AND surveillance. why did this guy feel he had to do it? and then he wrote a sorry note. wow. very sad.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 10:47 am:
===The victim has since died,===
Yes, that’s in the post.
- Big Dipper - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 10:57 am:
A lot of the more conservative locals on the NW Side insist that there is a specific profile of carjackers. Crickets re this guy undermining that point.
- Big Dipper - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 10:58 am:
==So then the SAFE-T Act doesn’t result in everyone being released into the street==
I support the Act too but I don’t think the part you’re referencing is effective until later in the month.
- Lulu in Lake - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 11:11 am:
The FLOCK plate readers are game changers.
- Cool Papa Bell - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 11:15 am:
=The FLOCK plate readers are game changers.=
Eye witnesses willing to tell the cops what they know are a big reason people get caught. FLOCK tech is good but without someone willing to come forward and say what they have seen its not as effective.
Lots and lots of reasons for all the violence we suffer through here in the US. But if we can ever get to the point where tech and people willing to talk mesh up. A much larger dent in it could be made.
- Jocko - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 11:18 am:
What a heartbreaking story. I’ve repeatedly stressed to my daughters they are far more valuable than EVERYTHING I own. Whether at home or in the car, simply throw the keys and run in the opposite direction.
- Stormsw7706 - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 11:42 am:
Good police work all the way around. Great use of technology. Good response by the States Attorney. I’m sure this isn’t this creeps first rodeo.
- Anon E Moose - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 1:08 pm:
“I support the Act too but I don’t think the part you’re referencing is effective until later in the month.”
Correct, the bail aspect takes effect on September 18th. (https://ilcourtsaudio.blob.core.windows.net/antilles-resources/resources/79db4d0e-4bed-4cd2-bec1-88fc1ba8b904/Rowe%20v.%20Raoul,%202023%20IL%20129248.pdf)
- TNR - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 1:11 pm:
The tech stuff is super helpful. Would love to see CPD complete the loop and buy more helicopters like other big city departments. Many carjackers get away because the officers are not allowed to chase in hot pursuit. There are some good reasons for the no-chase policy, but having a blanket no-chase policy tells carjackers there’s a good chance they’ll never be caught. That could be solved by having helicopters do the pursuing.
- Google Is Your Friend - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 1:54 pm:
You are a liar. There is not a “blanket no-chase policy.”
https://directives.chicagopolice.org/#directive/public/6607
- Anon E Moose - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 2:14 pm:
TNR, it is not a no-chase policy. It is a balancing test: “The necessity to immediately apprehend the fleeing suspect outweighs the level of inherent danger created by a motor vehicle pursuit.”
- FormerParatrooper - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 3:44 pm:
Good on the witness actually giving good information.
Good on the Police getting him.
Good of no bail.
Now try him. If found guilty, I know he confessed, then hopefully he remains away from society for life.
- cermak_rd - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 5:11 pm:
Anon E. Moose, and the balance is impacted by do you wipe out someone on your way to catching the guy. Even though the guy who killed Gaudalupe Francisco-Martinez was allegedly wanted (at least his car was) in connection with a shooting, still , the danger to everyone else, caused dispatch to call off the chase. Except the police officer didn’t stop the chase. Result 15Mil to the survivors (I don’t know if it’s justice, that would involve bringing Ms. Francisco-Martinez back from the dead, but it’s compensation at least)
- TNR - Tuesday, Sep 5, 23 @ 7:45 pm:
== You are a liar ==
Geez, I’m cranky about summer ending too, but that’s a little aggressive.
== The necessity to immediately apprehend the fleeing suspect outweighs the level of inherent danger created by a motor vehicle pursuit. ==
I mean, that’s a de facto no-chase policy. If the carjacker takes off like a bat outta heck in city traffic, that creates an inherent danger that almost always out weighs the risk of immediately apprehending the suspect. Please re-read my post. I said there are good reason not to chase. Police officers have been in a lot of fatal accidents during the chases. My simple point, which seems to be lost, is pursuit can be done safely and probably more effectively from the air. Helicopters are worth the investment.