Neighborhood News

Published May 7, 2019 By Justin Kerr

Police have arrested the alleged perpetrator of an April 8, 2019, sex assault on a teenage girl at West 36th Street and South Western Avenue. According to Chicago Police Department statements, Ivan Villegas, 26, is charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor after grabbing the 16-year-old and forcing his hand down her shirt.

Police officers at the April 10 meeting of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) for Beat 912 noted the presence of surveillance footage as helpful for the investigation, having recorded the offender on a "pod" camera. Police arrested Villegas, who lives in the West Elsdon neighborhood southwest of McKinley Park, on Tuesday, April 16.

Ivan Villegas, Chicago Police Department mug shotChicago Police Department arrest records also note the February 12, 2019, arrest of Villegas for solicitation of a sexual act in the 1100 block of South Kilbourn Avenue.

CAPS Crime Updates

Participants at the April CAPS meeting highlighted ongoing attention to gang-related issues in the neighborhood. Beat 912 Facilitator Glenn Young spoke of the continuing fight against neighborhood graffiti, with over a dozen spots in the neighborhood needing attention after a typical spring weekend. He exhorted all neighbors to promptly report graffiti so it can be quickly taken down.

At the meeting, 12th Ward Chief of Staff Samie Martinez said the ward office has continued its fight against gang presence at neighborhood residences, including properties in the 3700 block of South Wood Street and the 3800 block of South Honore Street. In addition to pursuing official City of Chicago drug and gang house designations, the ward office is actively seeking to evict known gang members and cite building owners for code violations, Martinez said.

CAPS Officer Jason Sollis detailed the beat's crime statistics at the meeting, covering the period of March 13 to April 10. Police received 1,182 calls for service, with nine reports of shots fired and 12 arrests, Sollis said.

Reported neighborhood crime for this period included two aggravated assaults, one aggravated battery, three motor vehicle thefts and two incidents of burglary, Sollis said. One of the burglaries occurred in the 3800 block of South Wood Street: a forced break-in at the rear door of a residence. Another occurred at a commercial business in the 3700 block of South Ashland Avenue, Sollis said.

Angel Camacho, Chicago Police Department mug shotSollis also noted the March 25 apprehension in the 3300 block of South Damen Avenue of three offenders fleeing an aggravated assault. After the offenders dumped their car, police recovered an AK-47 machine gun, Sollis said.

New 311 App

Jon Twist, Chicago Police Department mug shotSpecial guest Carol Adams from the City of Chicago attended the April CAPS meeting and presented the new Chicago Works App that residents can use to report crime and request civic services. "It gives you a quicker response," Adams said, adding that it's all coordinated with the same system tied into calling 311.

The Chicago Works App is available for downloading onto smart phones and tablets through both Apple's App Store for IOS devices, and the Google Play service for Android, Adams said.

Tow Truck Scammer Arrests

Chicago Police Department officers also noted the nearby Bridgeport neighborhood arrests of alleged tow truck scammers Angel Camacho and Jon Twist, one of whom lived on the beat. This follows a series of tow truck-related car thefts where tow truck drivers will quickly arrive on the scene of an accident and tow away the cars, police said.

The automotive theft task force has focused on this, police said, resulting in the April 5 arrests of Camacho and Twist. A police scanner was recovered from one of the vehicles, according to arrest reports that also show past arrests for street gang contacts for Camacho and Twist.

At the CAPS meeting, police distributed information about avoiding tow truck scams: Be suspicious and verify any tow truck driver who shows up without being called to an accident scene. Don't let your car be towed without knowing the destination and receiving a detailed receipt. Don't give out personal information, and if you suspect fraud or the tow truck driver refuses to leave, call 911.

The next CAPS Meeting for Beat 912 is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, at St. Maurice Church hall, 3625 S. Hoyne Ave., Chicago.