North Avenue Beach Assaults?

I've been hearing rumors that North Avenue Beach was closed do to out of control thugs  and gangbangers groping and assaulting people, not due to heat, as has been widely reported.  Rumors of cyclists knocked from their bikes... I know a few cyclists were picked up and dropped in the lake by some thugs early last month. The sources are somewhat suspect, but I wanted to know if anyone had heard or experienced anything.  Generally my least favorite part of the trail, but I'm debating whether to avoid it completely this summer. As the CPD is undergoing regime change, we should be diligent about reporting incidents like this, even if front-line CPD staff are dismissive... so that resources get allotted appropriately.

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Permalink Reply by Davo on June 6, 2011 at 6:57am

Looks like its going to be a wild summer. Watch out for the animals, Im going to buy some of that bear mace when I get back from my vacation

 

Permalink Reply by DocVelo on June 6, 2011 at 7:03am
I believe that the "youths" in Streeterville were suffering from heat exhaustion.
Permalink Reply by Davo on June 6, 2011 at 7:03am

maybe they are getting that anger virus from 28 days later

 

Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on June 6, 2011 at 7:25am

I don't believe that you seriously think that CPD is going to allow Magnificent Mile to become the regular roost of roving packs of feral youths, because you'd have to be pretty god damn stupid to think that.

There is a real problem, of course, which is that flooding the rich people area with tons of beat cops to prevent tourists from getting jacked up is going to mean many fewer cops for other parts of town, but so it goes.

H3N3 said:

Everything that allegedly happened according to that article is a lie.

The police would never let those things happen.

Permalink Reply by Joe Schmoe on June 6, 2011 at 9:28am
CPD is like 3,500 officers short of full strength, with less than 100 cadets in the academy.  Wildings and Flash mobs have been common in Streeterville and River North for 2 years now.  There were 4 random attacks on people in River North on Saturday night alone.  Jody Weiss turned over a CPD officer to an FBI civil rights commision when he was commish a few years back (Bill Cozzi), and ever since the cops are reticent to put their foot down and actively police.  They pretty much just come when they're called now, they don't try to pro-actively break anything up.  Where did this sudden awe of the crime-fighting power of the CPD suddenly come from? 
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 6, 2011 at 9:55am

Unfortunately, Joe is correct.  Wildings and flash mobs have gotten more common in the last year, and it's gotten a LOT worse in the last few months.  I know this from direct accounts from police officers who work in the 18th district, which covers the lakefront from the river north to Fullerton.

 

A cyclist just shared the following story with Evanston Bike Club.

 

> I live in Evanston, seen your folks riding.  Thought I’d pass this Trib story on to you along with my own observations so you can consider passing it along to your riders if they take the Chicago Lakeshore Bike path.
>
> What the press and the cops are not fully explaining is that these flash mobs are highly excitable groups of teens that are appearing in the hundreds.
>
> I suddenly encountered one of these mobs on the path in front of the Drake hotel.  This is a true mob, not an aggregating group of individuals like you might have a concert.  The mob was large and stretched from bike path to water line, Drake Hotel underpass to North Avenue beach with the heaviest concentration by the underpass.
>
> Police were lining either side of the bike path but were not making an effort to try and clear it.  The Police helicopter was overhead and a very large Police bike patrol was slowly moving through in close order.
>
> The cops were all facing the crowd and were themselves in groups of no less than six with a sergeant.  They lined their cars up as a barrier.
>
> The mob was all over and blocking the bike path.  I should have, but was too afraid to, dismounted because of the crowd.
>
> I tried to display a balance between seeming confident and aware yet not being confrontational.   I had to slowly and carefully weave my way through the crowd.  They knew they were in the way but were intentionally blocking the path.
>
> At one point, I was confronted by a line of teen boy/men stretching across the path they were walking abreast and not talking to teach other.  They were all wearing something that was bright red in color.  They were heavily tattooed.
>
> I said nothing but had to go to the far side of the path and had to slow to step creep around them.  Immediately to my left and behind me were about 15 police officers.
>
> I was right in the middle with the police and these teens both focused on me.  I kept moving, kept silent, cleared the group and quickly moved on.  It was not a good place to be.
>
> There is no doubt in my mind that I came very close to becoming a victim last Friday.  This is the closest I’ve come in some 35 years of being a Northsider and I’ve had some close scrapes (including being chased by a gang) before.  These are criminal mobs and they introduce a near riot atmosphere.
>
> My recommendation to any rider is that if they see these groups.  Know what they are – criminal flash mobs that are looking for victims.  Be aware that Police do not have the proper tactics or proper legal basis to deal with these mobs at present (hopefully the laws will be tweaked to allow Police to declare an illegal gathering and clear the area to restore order).  Riders should look for these mobs and then avoid them at all costs – reverse course, turn off, anything reasonable.  If worse comes to worse and a rider
> is trapped or too scared to continue, then go over to the Police and ask for help.  Ask to walk with one of their groups or attach to a passing bike patrol.
>
> I’m used to cops ignoring me as I roll pass, this time they were nearly all making eye contact with me – each giving me a non-visual message – it was really clear too - “leave now”.   It was good advice.

 

Unfortunately Daley and Weis kept trying to sweep it under the rug, apparently for fear of scaring off tourists and suburbanites.  Police have been increasing their presence in the worst areas, but the problem has exploded in the last month.  Emanuel and McCarthy have been continuing the "sweep it under the rug" approach as far as the public is concerned.  News stories about the recent North Ave. beach closing on Memorial Day was an example of that "sweep it under the rug" approach.  Unfortunately, the problem has gotten too big to hide anymore.  I'm glad that the Tribune finally covered it today, and I hope that more media coverage will follow and put pressure on the city to develop an effective solution.

Their focal points on the lakefront have been Oak St. beach and North Ave. beach, with additional problems reported at Olive Park and nearby areas.  The news stories about the Memorial Day closing of North Ave. beach due to "heat" were pure bull - smoke and mirrors.  It was a crackdown on violence at the beach.  There have also been problems with flash mob violence and shoplifting along North Michigan Ave. and nearby areas.  The weekend incidents in Streeterville were part of this trend.  The Chicago & State red line stop has been a problem area at night.  Grand & State has seen some issues, but not to the same extent as Chicago Ave. (and the McDonald's at Chicago & State).

McCarthy made a media statement today, saying that he intended to continue the crackdown.  I hope that the media will continue to hold his feet to the fire.

What does this mean to you?  I hate to promote paranoia, but you need to keep yourselves safe.  Until this problem is under control, I don't recommend riding the lakefront from Fullerton to around Monroe at night, even if you're in a group.  When these mobs happen, there can be *hundreds* of guys out there.  Be aware of your surroundings at ALL times, even on sections of the lakefront you would normally consider safe.  If you see a large mob ahead, get away from them as QUICKLY as possible and then 911 to give the police the location of the mob.  Stay the hell away from them and stay safe.

 

I hate the idea off giving up the lakefront at night, but I'd rather not see any of you fall victim to this insanity. 

 

Joe Schmoe said:

CPD is like 3,500 officers short of full strength, with less than 100 cadets in the academy.  Wildings and Flash mobs have been common in Streeterville and River North for 2 years now.  There were 4 random attacks on people in River North on Saturday night alone. 
Permalink Reply by Shay on June 6, 2011 at 10:20am

Holy crap, Anne. 

 

That is really, really scary.  

 

I am leaving work soon to ride from Hyde Park to Logan Square.  The LFT has been my preferred way since April....no more.  Mornings are fine, but afternoons I'm taking the streets.  

 

It absolutely *infuriates* me that these thugs can get away with intimidating an entire city!  

 

I am also going to copy and paste what you wrote and post it as a "note" on Facebook, then tag all my bike friends.  People need to know.

Permalink Reply by in it to win it 8.0 mi on June 6, 2011 at 11:36am

Anne,

What day/time of day was the mob in described article?  I agree there have been issues, but the one descrived by the writer would have to have been noticed by a fellow chainlinker.  As a regular user of the LFP, I'm sure even if I wasn't there for this storm, I would have noticed it brewing.

Don't get me wrong, a mob of 10 youths beating people up is BAD.  It just looks like this article is maybe overblown?

 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 6, 2011 at 11:40am

Yes, people need to know.  Mornings seem to be okay, but afternoons and evenings are up for grabs.

 

Please share this info with folks you know.  I'd rather have people be aware and stay safe than hear about increasing numbers of victims.

I think that a pressure campaign (letters and phone calls) is in order.  Contact your alderman and express your opinion about the need to support CPD and restore order and safety.  I think the mayor and superintendent need to hear this message, too.

Permalink Reply by Joel on June 6, 2011 at 11:43am
Water Tower Place and Nordstroms both said they had unruly mobs of teens shoplifting.  Someone was attacked in front of Northwestern Medical in broad daylight.  They shut down all of North Ave. Beach one day.  If anything, I would say the stories aren't getting enough press.

in it to win it said:

Anne,

What day/time of day was the mob in described article?  I agree there have been issues, but the one descrived by the writer would have to have been noticed by a fellow chainlinker.  As a regular user of the LFP, I'm sure even if I wasn't there for this storm, I would have noticed it brewing.

Don't get me wrong, a mob of 10 youths beating people up is BAD.  It just looks like this article is maybe overblown?

 

Permalink Reply by Alex B. on June 6, 2011 at 11:47am
See my video earlier in the thread to see what it looked like around 7pm before things got out of hand at Oak St.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 6, 2011 at 11:54am

In response to in it to win it, unfortunately, the article is not overblown.  The incidents described in the message passed along via Evanston Bike Club and the news articles happened Friday 6/3 thru yesterday (Sunday 6/5).  This incidents can pop up very quickly and dissipate quickly.  One incident might be 8-10 thugs.  Another might be dozens or hundreds. 

 

I'm not sure about the time of day of the Friday incident, but from the accounts I've been hearing from police officers (directly and via Second City Cop), I'd guess that it was afternoon or evening.  If you were there 1/2 hour earlier or later, you might have missed it entirely. 

Until the last 2 years, there weren't frequent incidents like this in Streeterville or on this section of the lakefront.  They've become an increasingly regular occurrence, and they're unpredictable.

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