WBEZ | Chicago Police Department

Police Board fires cops for conduct captured on gang video

Sat, 11 May 2013 06:00:00 -0500

The Chicago Police Board has fired two officers for conduct captured on a 2011 gang video (above) discovered by WBEZ.

The board found patrol officers Susana La Casa, 49, and Luis Contreras, 44, guilty of numerous administrative charges and decided the fitting punishment was dismissal, according to James P. Lynch, the attorney who represented the police department in the case.

The guilty charges, Lynch said, included unlawfully restraining a youth, transporting him without a valid police purpose to the turf of a gang that would threaten him, and making a false statement about the incident to an Internal Affairs detective.

La Casa and Contreras arrived March 19, 2011, on a Logan Square block to assist two officers who had handcuffed a gang member named Miguel “Mikey” Castillo. The youth ended up in the backseat of the SUV that La Casa and Contreras were driving. They drove him to a block of nearby Humboldt Park that a rival gang claimed as its territory.

A 90-second amateur video shot there shows La Casa and Contreras outside the SUV, a Chevrolet Tahoe with standard police markings. Three of the doors are open as onlookers converge, peer in on Castillo, taunt him and flash their gang’s hand signal. As Castillo tries to cover his face, La Casa tells him, “Put your fucking hand down.”

The video appeared briefly on YouTube, where WBEZ spotted it. The department quickly stripped La Casa and Contreras of their police powers and began an investigation. Interim police Supt. Terry Hillard called the incident “not professional” and said “scared straight” tactics were always inappropriate.

Supt. Garry McCarthy, Hillard’s successor, recommended last September that the board dismiss the officers. At the board’s evidentiary hearing, which lasted two days in February, La Casa and Contreras insisted they were just trying to give the young man a ride home and he never faced danger.

La Casa declined to comment about the dismissal. Contreras and attorney William N. Fahy, who represented the officers, did not return calls.

Neighborhood reactions varied. Eric Hudson, a homeowner who worked with La Casa and Contreras against Logan Square gang activity, said the dismissal stemmed from a police department culture “weighted to Irish male cops.”

Hudson called La Casa, an Illinois-licensed clinical counselor, a hard worker who did not deserve to be branded as abusive. “This woman is a social worker, not Jon Burge,” Hudson said, referring to the notorious Chicago detective imprisoned in connection to police torture cases.

But Rev. Kenny Ruiz, the former head of a gang-intervention program at the McCormick Tribune YMCA, hopes the dismissal sends a message to other officers. “Do what the side of the police car says: ‘Serve and Protect.’ That means everyone,” Ruiz said. “They can be the conduit for something positive for the young people and the challenges that they face.”

The board, a nine-member panel appointed by the mayor, does not usually dismiss officers recommended for that punishment. During this year’s first three months, the board fired just three of 13 officers that either the police department or the Independent Police Review Authority had recommended for discharge. In eight of those cases, the board ruled that the fitting punishment was a suspension or reprimand. In another case, the respondent resigned. In another, the department withdrew the charges.

Under Illinois law, officers can appeal their dismissals to Cook County Circuit Court.

Castillo, who did not suffer physical harm, received $33,000 from the city as part of a settlement in a civil suit over the incident, according to an attorney representing him. The suit, filed in federal court, alleged false arrest and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez’s office reviewed the incident but declined to bring a criminal case.

Chip Mitchell is WBEZ’s West Side bureau reporter. Follow him on Twitter @ChipMitchell1 and @WBEZoutloud, and connect with him through Facebook and LinkedIn.

Emanuel: ‘No threat to Chicago,’ marathon will go on

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:24:00 -0500

Chicago City Hall was quiet on Tuesday as Mayor Rahm Emanuel said that “there is no threat to (the city).” Security officials around the city and at its two major airports, however, remain on alert following deadly twin bomb blasts at yesterday’s Boston Marathon.

Even though Emanuel reiterated there is no “credible threat” to the city, he urged Chicagoans to keep their eyes open for anything suspicious. The mayor said he met this morning at City Hall with his top cabinet officials in the police and fire departments, as well as the head of the city’s emergency communications center.

Emanuel added he called Boston Mayor Thomas Menino yesterday to offer his support, following the bombings that have killed three people and injured more than 170 near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

“While it was a horrific event, it showed the best of this country,” Emanuel said, adding: “I think everybody was heartfelt for the residents of the city of Boston, so I wanted to make sure that they knew that our resources were available if they needed them.”

Security at Chicago’s City Hall didn’t seem stricter than normal Tuesday, save for the presence of two Chicago cops on horseback who were stationed on LaSalle Street. The Chicago Police Department did not immediately offer details as to what additional security measures might be in place.

Emanuel also insisted the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, set for October 13, will go ahead as planned. In a statement Tuesday, Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski said race organizers have been in contact with the city’s public safety agencies since yesterday’s bombings.

“As our top priority, we work in lockstep with these agencies to ensure the safest possible event for everyone involved. As we do each year and throughout the year, we will sit down with these agencies and conduct a comprehensive security review as part of the planning process for this year’s event,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, security adjustments at area airports were more overt.

“Passengers traveling through Chicago’s airports today may notice a more visible presence of Chicago police officers, canine units and aviation security officers,” Chicago Department of Aviation spokesman Gregg Cunningham explained.

Cunningham said the department would continue to work closely with local and federal agencies on safety and security matters.

The Department of Homeland Security said it would continue to keep in place enhanced security measures at transportation hubs. Meanwhile the Transportation Security Administration is set to allow airline passengers to carry small folding knives on planes later this month.

The policy change is the first shift of its kind since the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Al Keefe is a WBEZ reporter. Follow him at @akeefe.

Chicago police official: Congress Theater 'untruthful' on night of underage drinking

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:15:00 -0500

A Chicago Police Department official has accused the Congress Theater of failing to cooperate with officers during an investigation into underage drinking at the venue.

Sgt. Joseph Giambrone testified that Congress staffers lied about serving alcohol when his unit arrived to investigate suspicions of underage drinking during a DJ Rusko set in the early hours of May 6, 2012.

Giambrone’s testimony came during a disciplinary hearing at City Hall Tuesday morning, the second conducted by Chicago’s Liquor Control Commission looking into alleged illegal activities at the Congress.

During his testimony, Giambrone described a call from the emergency room of Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center in Wicker Park that reported several concertgoers “of various ages” arriving from the Congress Theater via private ambulance with symptoms of extreme intoxication, many of them “barely breathing.”

Giambrone said that when officers arrived on the scene, Congress managers Atieh Abdelhadi and Ahmad Mahidi met him outside the venue and denied serving alcohol during the show.

Next, Giambrone said he observed Mahidi talking on his radio in “a language that wasn’t English,” and then witnessed Abdelhadi running ahead to unscrew taps in the lobby bar and place cups upside down over the spigots as officers entered the venue.

Once inside, Giambrone claimed to see employees “activating tap devices” and serving “amber-hued” liquid to patrons by the stage.

Giambrone said he was also present at the Congress on the night of April 13, 2012, when his unit responded to a large fight during a Chief Keef show. The venue did not call 911 to report this incident; defense attorney Harlan C. Powell hypothesized that venue staffers may have tried to call out to police officers already on the scene.

Powell questioned the credibility of the city’s investigation, calling the allegations against his client “grossly prejudicial.”

To support his claim, Powell brought up a meeting that took place between Giambrone and the Congress Theater following these incidents. Powell said that during the meeting, venue personnel said they understood that any calls made to the police by the Congress would not be brought up in disciplinary actions.

However, Deputy Hearings Commissioner Robert Nolan rejected Powell’s argument, stating that the events at issue occurred before any alleged conversations took place.

Tuesday’s hearing was originally scheduled for March 6. But Powell – the third attorney to represent venue owner Erineo “Eddie” Carranza since his troubles with city agencies began in March of 2012 – requested more time to review the case from Deputy Commissioner Nolan.

The next hearing is scheduled for April 30.

Prior reporting by Jim DeRogatis. Research assistance by Jennifer Grandy.

Earlier reports about Carranza, the Congress and the Portage, from Jim DeRogatis:

March 8: The fate of the Portage remains a messy mystery

March 6: Congress Theater hearing rescheduled

Feb. 22: Congress Theater restoration underway, but it’s got a long way to go

Jan. 16: Congress Theater liquor hearings begin with undercover cop’s testimony

Dec. 3, 2012: A rally to save the Portage Theater ‘as we know it’

Nov. 28, 2012: The Portage Theater uses Graham Elliot’s name in vain

Nov. 2, 2012: Congress Theater’s new security chief: An ex-cop with a troubled past

Oct. 31, 2012: Congress Theater police calls rank with Soldier Field, United Center

Sept. 23, 2012: How did things turn so bad so fast at the Portage Theater?

Sept. 22, 2012: New Owner of the Portage Theater moves to evict current operators

Sept. 16, 2012: Congress Theater splits with development partner

Sept. 11, 2012: The Portage Theater: What’s Eddie up to?

July 26, 2012: Congress Theater partners up… and looks to expand

April 14, 2012: More trouble at the Congress Theater

March 28, 2012: Critical of Congress security, headliner brings his own

March 25, 2012: Congress Theater responds to complaints

March 22, 2012: City to Congress Theater: Clean up your act!

Leah Pickett blogs about pop culture for WBEZ. Follow her on Twitter @leahkpickett.

Police on overtime target 'hot zones'

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:30:00 -0600

In a press conference Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said the historically low crime rate in February, was due in part to a new strategy that places additional police in “hot zones” across the city.

McCarthy would not share the exact location of the areas. He did say the areas only compose 2 percent of Chicago’s geography, but contain about 10 percent of the cities crime.

The idea of deploying officer to “hot spots” has been used in the past. McCarthy actually shut down the mobile task force, who responded to hot spots, shortly after Mayor Rahm Emanuel took office.

But McCarthy says tactic is better because of it’s use of historical data. The area’s were chosen based on three years of violent crime data, with a focus on the most recent year.

Each zone will have an additional 20 police officers, for a total of 200 additional officers on the street.

“The idea is you can’t walk around the area without seeing a police officer,” said McCarthy.

McCarthy is accomplishing the increased staffing using overtime.

Some Chicago residents and community leaders, as well as the Fraternal order of Police, have critiqued McCarthy for not growing the number of police. He said they are hiring more police. But in the meantime, overtime was cheaper than additional staff and could be implemented more quickly.

Cops caught on gang video to defend themselves

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 20:11:00 -0600

An amateur video spotted by WBEZ shows Chicago officers Susana La Casa and Luis Contreras after they brought a young gang member to the 1600 block of North Spaulding Avenue on March 19, 2011.

Two Chicago cops who face dismissal after getting caught on a gang video are scheduled to defend themselves in public for the first time Wednesday as the city’s Police Board begins its main hearing on the case.

Police Supt. Garry McCarthy is recommending the dismissal of officers Susana La Casa and Luis Contreras based on internal charges they unlawfully restrained a young man in the Logan Square neighborhood and let suspected gang members threaten him.

The charges, filed with the board in September, accuse La Casa and Contreras of holding the youth, Miguel “Mikey” Castillo, against his will on the 3500 block of West McLean Avenue on March 19, 2011. The officers then drove him about six blocks south “without a valid police purpose,” according to the charges.

The officers brought Castillo, a gang member, to the 1600 block of North Spaulding Avenue — the turf of a rival gang. The incident came to light when WBEZ spotted a 90-second amateur video that shows the cops outside their marked SUV with the doors open as onlookers converge on the vehicle, taunt the young man inside and flash gang symbols.

La Casa and Contreras, according to McCarthy, brought “discredit upon the department.” The officers later each allegedly “made a false oral statement” about the incident to an Internal Affairs detective.

The board, a nine-member panel, has the final word about the charges and punishment. The hearing, an adversarial process that could last days, resembles a criminal trial. A hearing officer presides.

The police department must show “a preponderance of the evidence,” a standard less rigorous than the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt measure used in criminal courtrooms.

La Casa and Contreras, meanwhile, are both suspended without pay. Their attorney, William Fahy, declined to comment about the case.

A Fraternal Order of Police spokesman said the union would have no comment because the officers had chosen private counsel.

La Casa and Contreras have not spoken about the incident publicly but, after WBEZ posted the video, some Logan Square homeowners praised their efforts against gangs and called for their return to duty.

The city paid $33,000 to Castillo as part of a settlement in a civil suit over the incident, according to the law firm representing him. The suit, filed in federal court, alleged false arrest and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez’s office reviewed the case in 2011 but declined to bring criminal charges.

Chicago police chief wants officers caught on gang video fired

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:09:00 -0600

An amateur video shows Chicago officers Susana La Casa and Luis Contreras after bringing a young gang member to the 1600 block of North Spaulding Avenue on March 19, 2011. (WBEZ on Vimeo.)

Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy is recommending the dismissal of two city cops based on charges they unlawfully restrained a young man in the Logan Square neighborhood and let suspected gang members threaten him.

The charges, kept quiet since filed with the Chicago Police Board in September, accuse officers Susana La Casa and Luis Contreras of holding the youth, Miguel “Mikey” Castillo, against his will on the 3500 block of West McLean Avenue and driving him about six blocks south “without a valid police purpose.”

The incident took place March 19, 2011. The officers brought Castillo, a gang member, to the 1600 block of North Spaulding Avenue — the turf of a rival gang. The incident came to light when WBEZ posted a 90-second amateur video that showed the cops standing outside their marked SUV and leaving the doors open as onlookers converged on the vehicle, taunted the young man inside and flashed gang symbols.

La Casa and Contreras, according to the charges, “allowed suspected Latin King gang members to threaten” Castillo and brought “discredit upon the department.”

The officers later each “made a false oral statement” about the incident to an Internal Affairs detective, according to the charges.

The board, a nine-member panel, has the final word about the charges and the punishment. The department must show “a preponderance of the evidence,” a standard less rigorous than the beyond-a-reasonable-doubt measure used in criminal courtrooms. Max Caproni, the board’s executive director, says he expects the case’s evidentiary hearing no sooner than January.

La Casa and Contreras, both suspended without pay, did not return WBEZ messages seeking comment about the charges.

A Fraternal Order of Police spokesman says the union has no comment about the case because the officers have chosen to defend themselves privately. That counsel could not be reached for comment.

The officers have not spoken about the incident publicly but, after WBEZ posted the video, some Logan Square homeowners rallied behind them and praised their efforts against gangs.

Castillo this summer reached a settlement in a federal civil suit he brought against the city of Chicago over the incident. The suit, which alleged false arrest and intentional infliction of emotional distress, will net the youth $33,000, according to the law firm representing him.

State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez’s office reviewed the case last year but declined to bring criminal charges.

Jury deliberations to begin at Abbate civil trial

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:29:00 -0600

Jurors are set to begin deliberating at a potentially landmark federal civil trial focused on whether Chicago police adhere to a code of silence protecting fellow officers accused of wrongdoing.

They're expected to withdraw Wednesday to start considering evidence in the case that stems from an off-duty officer's notorious 2007 beating of a bartender.

A video of Anthony Abbate attacking Karolina Obrycka went viral and became an embarrassment for police.

Obrycka sued Abbate and the city for damages.

In closings Tuesday, plaintiff's attorney Patrick Provenzale called Abbate "a monster" acting with impunity because of established police culture.

City attorney Barrett Rubens agreed Abbate was a monster but told jurors he isn't a "monster that the city created." And so she says the city isn't liable for his actions.

Beggars sue, claiming Chicago police harassment

Thu, 24 May 2012 08:31:00 -0500

A federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of several panhandlers who allege Chicago police regularly chase them from a high-end stretch of Michigan Avenue.

The lawsuit contends panhandling is protected speech under the First Amendment, but police systematically intimidate and threaten to arrest them.

McArthur Hubbard, one of the eight plaintiffs, claims an officer told him on several occasions while he begged near high-end shops that he couldn't do it.

City laws prohibit aggressive panhandling tactics, described as unwanted touching, following people or using abusive language. Passively asking for donations, as the plaintiffs claim they were doing, is legal.

Chicago Law Department spokesman Roderick Drew said Wednesday the city respects First Amendment rights. However, he couldn't comment on the lawsuit because it hadn't been seen by the city attorney.

Chicago police say 90 arrested in NATO protests

Tue, 22 May 2012 09:07:00 -0500

The Chicago Police Department says 90 people were arrested before and during the NATO Summit.

Police spokeswoman Carolyn Deming also said eight police officers were injured while monitoring demonstrations and keeping protesters away from McCormick Place, site of the conference.

Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said Monday the news is what did not happened during the summit. He called the demonstrations a "non-event," adding that is supposed to happen in America.

Authorities say many of those arrested were released Monday without charges being filed.

McCarthy also said the officer stabbed in the leg during a clash Sunday between some demonstrators and police was treated and beck on the job shortly afterward.

Police, protesters offer opposite accounts of NATO events

Tue, 22 May 2012 05:00:00 -0500

Police and protesters have drastically different accounts of how anti-NATO street events in Chicago went over the last week, and on Monday both sides seemed to be taking a final stab at getting their perspective to dominate the lasting narrative. Both demonstrators and Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy made ample time to speak with reporters on Monday, often repeating points they had made earlier in the day verbatim. The differences between their characterizations of events, however, are stark.

For starters, the two sides don’t agree on numbers, such as how many people participated in a big rally from Grant Park to McCormick Place on Sunday afternoon.

“You know that crowd...2,500 to 3,000 was well below the 15,000 to 20,000, 200 million people that everybody was anticipating was coming here,” McCarthy said on Monday. McCarthy said his department relied on an aerial view estimate of how many people could fit within a certain space.

But protest organizer Joe Iosbaker said as many as 15,000 took to the streets for that march. Iosbaker said his estimate came from another demonstrator who stood at the intersection of Michigan Ave. and Roosevelt Rd. and counted the number of people who passed by.

Iosbaker, like many other demonstrators, also accused Chicago police of indiscriminate brutality on Sunday and at prior events.

“McCarthy promised this wouldn’t happen, and they didn’t act out of control,” Iosbaker said, speaking of police officers. “He ordered them to start swinging.”

McCarthy said his force responded surgically to isolated attacks on his officers, but characterized the week as largely peaceful.