140 Arrested In Giant Gang Takedown Effort From CPD

By Mae Rice in News on May 20, 2016 9:25PM



Crime scene tape (Photo by LukaTDB via Shutterstock)

One hundred and forty people have been arrested in a gigantic gang takedown in the 11th and 15th wards, the Chicago Police Department announced Friday. The mission, run by the CPD's Organized Crime Bureau, is "one of the largest narcotics unified enforcement missions in CPD's history," Chief of Police Eddie Johnson said in a press conference.

Of the 140 arrested, 136 will face felony charges, and the other four misdemeanors. Fifty of those arrested were already convicted felons, police said, and 83 had received enhanced charges of selling narcotics within 1,000 feet of a school. Eight offenders were put in CPD's diversion program, an alternative for non-violent offenders that provides addictive and social services to drug users who need "real, real help," as Johnson put it.

As they made the arrests, CPD seized 23 weapons, more than $45,000 worth of narcotics, 278 packs of unstamped cigarettes and more than $7,000 in cash.

Chicago police collaborated with Ald. Patrick D. Thompson (11th) and Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) on the mission. Chicago's 11th Ward covers elements of Bridgeport, Canaryville, Armour Square, Pilsen, Stockyards, University Village and UIC; the 15th Ward covers elements of Brighton Park, Englewood and Back of the Yards.

Police have done several large raids like this recently, including a South Side gang raid where 64 were arrested and an Uptown narcotics bust where 16 were arrested, both in April. Nevertheless, Chicago gun violence is up substantially from last year and arrests are down, a citywide trend that began when footage of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald's fatal shooting at the hands of a police officer was released to the public this past November.