By Jim Sterne
News Editor
A walk in the park may be possible now that the Chicago Police Department’s Narcotics and Gang Investigations Section operation entitled “Walk in the Park” is over. Sixteen warrants netted nine suspects between 11:03 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, to 7 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10. The sting operation was prompted by citizen complaints and District 23 police reports of an open air drug market believed to be run by a local street gang.
Clarendon Park, in the 4500 block of N. Clarendon Ave., is where the sting operation got its name but the area of the operation included from Sheridan Rd. to Clarendon Ave., between Montrose and Wilson avenues.
The charges are more severe because two elementary schools, Arai Elementary School in the 900 block of W. Wilson Ave. and Graeme Stewart Elementary School in the 4500 block of N. Kenmore Ave., are included in the area of operations.
According to David Bayless, police spokesperson, surveillance, confidential sources, informers and various computer data bases were used to identify and arrest the suspects for selling cannabis and crack cocaine. “We’ve found that taking out the entire drug operation is much more effective than doing it piecemeal, but it takes time,” Bayless said. “Police were getting complaints from citizens about the street corner conspiracy during the operation. Many times we were accused of doing nothing but we could not reveal our investigation.”
“Taking the time to collect incriminating evidence against the suspects ties the drug traffickers to their different roles as leader, lookout, seller, and gang member,” Bayless said. “We build stronger cases that ensure convictions.”
Charged with criminal drug conspiracy and in custody are: Jermain Benjamin, 22; Jesse Hall, 20; and a 16-year-old male who will be upgraded from juvenile to adult status.
Charged with delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 ft. of a school and in custody are: Byron Campbell, 25; Patrick Coleman, 24; Eric Masters, 28; David Newell, 19; Caprice Radcliff, 23; and Gregory Stewart, 23. They are scheduled to appear on Feb. 14. in Br 57-2, at 26th St. and California Ave. criminal court.
The total contraband confiscated include 139.1 grams of crack cocaine with a street value of $17,108; 144.7 grams of cannabis with a street value of $862.20; six cell phones, two vehicles and approximately $3,050 cash.
“The Narcotics and Gang Investigations Section operations do not involve local or district police because that would compromise the effectiveness of the district police by pulling them away from their regular duty,” Bayless said. |
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