CHICAGO – A group of Chicago police officers who tracked down and arrested two robbers who fired shots while robbing a woman in Logan Square this spring are being honored for their efforts.
In May, CPD’s Shakespeare (14th) Precinct was devastated by a double-digit increase in robberies, on top of last year’s dramatic increase. But thanks to several major arrests, including those of the honored officers, Shakespeare is now enjoying himself a decrease of 35% in robberies since the beginning of the year.
The 30-year-old victim was in the 3100 block of North Christiana when two boys, ages 15 and 17, confronted her on May 24 around 2:20 p.m. They took her bag at gunpoint and the 15-year-old fired. shots, according to a Chicago police report.
Although the victim was not injured, he was “shocked to the core,” police said Chicago Police Memorial Foundation when they announced that ten police officers involved in the police response and investigation will be honored as the organization’s Officers of the Month.
The tactical units of the Shakespeare (14th) District saturated the area to “flush out the offenders” and “with compassion [tend] to a desperate victim,” the organization said in a press release.
Those efforts paid off when officers stopped the two teens in the 3400 block of North Albany because they matched the victim’s descriptions. She confirmed that they were the robbers and the police took them into custody. During the arrests, the police also found a firearm.
Other officers searched the area and found the woman’s property and surveillance footage supporting the charges.
Prosecutors charged the 15-year-old with discharging a firearm during an armed robbery, aggravated assault by discharging a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a person under 21 and possession of ammunition.
The 17-year-old is charged with armed robbery and hindering identification.
The Memorial Foundation said the winners’ actions serve as a testament to the high standards of excellence and courage that define the Chicago Police Department.
Named officers of the month were: Sgt. Arshad Syeed, Officers Ivan Avila, Geoffrey Gipson, Edgar Escobar, Anthony Kurien, Marina Jannes, Michael Pelrine, Urbano Cancel, Ryan Birmingham and Detective Jeremy Carter.
The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides support and assistance to the families of Chicago police officers who are killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty.
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