"Why haven't they found the guy yet? All you have to do is google the number on the van."

We've all been wondering why hasn't the CPD caught the driver of the van that killed Frank Cruz? How can a van that has a telephone number and name of a business, involved in a hit and run, escape the police? 

The cargo-van driver who ran over Cruz as he rode his bike in West Garfield Park August 17 sped away from the crash without stopping to render aid.

And, almost a month after the crash, the driver remains at large, despite the fact that a security camera captured footage of the van that struck Cruz, complete with identifying information about the van's origins.

According to police, Cruz was biking south on Pulaski, just south of the Green Line station, at 10:19 PM, when a northbound driver in a white commercial van made a left turn onto Maypole, running Cruz over. Security video recovered from Family Meat Market, a corner store next to the crash site, appears to show the driver plowing into Cruz without hitting the brakes, then fleeing west on Maypole. Several bystanders can then be seen running to the fallen cyclist.

Security footage also shows that the van was marked with the phone number for Advanced Realty Services, a brokerage located at 2427 W. Madison.

Still, nearly a month after the fatal collisions, no one has been charged in conjunction with Cruz's death, according to police, and there are no updates on the search for the driver.

"The case remains open, and detectives continue to investigate," a Chicago Police Department spokesperson said via e-mail.

Police have asked anyone with information about the crash to call 312-745-4521.

I visited Advanced Realty's storefront five days after the crash, where I spoke with a man who was cleaning the office, but said he knew nothing about the case. When I called the office last week for comment, an employee took a message, but the call wasn't returned.

Full Article on Chicago Reader:

http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/francisco-cruz-hit-and-run-inv...

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on September 15, 2016 at 9:09am

> How can a van that has a telephone number and name of a business, involved in a hit and run, escape the police? 

It does sound odd. Clearly, the police would have contacted the owner of the van by now. No reports have surfaced suggesting it was stolen. If so, you'd expect the company knew who had the van out at that time. I hate to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but perhaps the owner of the van (or the driver) is connected to someone important in some way...

Just a thought, not a rumor.

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on September 15, 2016 at 9:26am
The police never let you know what they are doing in an investigation until much later. If that, or if you make a freedom of information request you might find out much latter.

Yes, the police should have approached the registered owner about the whereabouts and use of this vehicle during the time frame of this crime and have them explain their side of the story and then begin the process to press charges if the vehicle was not reported stolen or if there were any witnesses to the crime.
Permalink Reply by ad on September 15, 2016 at 3:54pm

Assuming the registered owner is a business, and multiple people may have had access to the vehicle at any given time, this is the type of infuriating case where even with a number plastered on the side it can be hard to determine who the offender is.   

Also, given the fact that the police haven't cleared the business of involvement, and they haven't jumped out themselves to clear the air, could mean the police have it narrowed down to a handful of people and are trying to make it stick.  The CPD has a horrible track record for transparency when it's called for, so it's hard to cut them a break, but there are potential investigatory reasons why this is taking so long and so little info is getting out.  

Permalink Reply by pistola on September 15, 2016 at 5:23pm

For a police force that clears less than 30% of homicides in a year, I have very little faith that the police will charge anyone in this case.

"Chicago police currently solve about 30 percent of the city's homicides, said a department spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi. In Houston, a city of comparable size, that figure is 56 percent, according to a spokesman for the Houston Police Department. In Philadelphia, it's 49 percent".

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on September 16, 2016 at 3:01am

I will give CPD the benefit of the doubt. It seems most of the homicides in Chicago are gang-related, and thus tend to be more difficult to solve (gang member silence, or scared witness silence).

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