News

Hanover Park police see upswing in violence as result of gang turf battle

Posted July 04, 2009 11:00 pm

By Kimberly Pohl

First of two parts

Police believe an intensifying feud between two gangs - not a broad resurgence in gang crime - is behind several of Hanover Park's recent violent attacks.

While a spate of four homicides in two weeks in late May and early June scared residents and drew added attention to the upsurge in gang crime, two of the murders had no connection to gangs.

"I don't think we have a resurgence in gang crime," said Police Sgt. Joe Ciancio, who heads up Hanover Park's Special Operations Group. "I think we have two groups battling each other right now."

The cycle of violence between the two gangs escalated in March after an 18-year-old Streamwood man was shot near Sycamore Avenue and Church Street, he said. Two retaliatory stabbings followed in April, and the violence escalated with the May 23 murder of 16-year-old Jesus Sanchez.

Police aren't confirming a connection between the death of 23-year-old Diontae Roberts, who was fatally stabbed at a party June 6, and that feud. However, prosecutors said a witness heard "King love" shouted during the attack, which seems to imply a reference to the Latin Kings. Police also won't say whether a June 29 shooting on the 1700 block of Walnut Avenue was connected to gangs. In that case, a 26-year-old man was shot in the wrist.

The Latin Kings and Surenos, also known as Sur 13, are the focus of police, who work tirelessly to gather intelligence on members and behaviors in order to curb future violence.

There are other gangs in Hanover Park, but they have only a marginal presence, Ciancio said.

Ciancio said gangs serve mostly as social organizations as opposed to being focused on the drug trade, guns or financial gain. The Latin Kings, more so than the Surenos, dabble in marijuana and cocaine sales and have occasional access to firearms, but nothing like the criminal enterprises found in big cities. Both groups are fairly independent, meaning they're not taking orders from gangs in Chicago, he said.

Ciancio said their activities are largely limited to representing - wearing gang colors and tilted hats, flashing hand signs and "frequenting their 'hood." They also have their own verbiage.

The average Hanover Park gang member is 17 years old, he said. Typical recruits are between 12 and 16, have low self-esteem and earn poor grades. They tend not to play organized sports, they lack parental supervision and don't obey authority figures, he said.

Those are universal characteristics of gang members, according to Mundelein Police Chief Ray Rose, who's credited with keeping that town's gang problem in check.

Rose said youths with relatives already in gangs are especially susceptible to recruitment.

"If an older brother is in a gang, it's very hard for the younger brother to avoid it," Rose said. "We see multiple generations involved."

Joe Pena, former East Dundee police chief and currently Channahon's chief, said gangs are tempting.

"Gangs let younger kids know that if you're a part of the family, you'll never want for anything," Pena said. "Once in, always in. That's the mentality."

Ciancio, who came to Hanover Park in 1990, believes the town's gang problem originated in Chicago. A Chicago Crime Commission report released in 2006 showed gangs are increasingly setting up shop in the suburbs because of a crackdown by Chicago police. Immigration to the suburbs and the destruction of public housing in Chicago are other factors in the outward movement.

Gangs have a defined hierarchy with leadership titles and responsibilities, said Lt. Bill Wolf, commander of Elgin's Special Investigations Division. Some have a treasurer to collect dues, which could be a monthly fee or a percentage of drug sales.

It doesn't take much for a gang to take hold, he said.

"Most of our gangs in Elgin are directly involved with Chicago gangs," Wolf said. "A couple kids will move here, make friends and next thing you know, they've brought the gang here."

Gang-related incidents These incidents, all in the last four months, have been identified by police as being gang-related. • June 6: Diontae Roberts, 23, of the 1700 block of Briarwood Avenue, was stabbed to death in the 8000 block of Catawba Lane. Jahaziel Duron, 16, was charged as an adult with the first-degree murder of Roberts and attempted first-degree murder of Roberts' 19-year-old brother, Michael Cherry. • May 23: Jesus Sanchez, 16, of the 7100 block of Mulberry Street, was shot multiple times less than a block from his home as he was returning from playing soccer. No arrest has been made. • May 5: A 19-year-old man was stabbed on the 6900 block of Meadowbrook Lane. • April 29: A 25-year-old man was stabbed in the chest near Pebblebeach and Catalina drives. Youths 14 and 16 years old were charged. • April 20: A 15-year-old was stabbed near Church Street and Redwood Avenue. • March 18: Police arrested a juvenile for shooting into a car at Barrington Road and Walnut. • March 14: An 18-year-old Streamwood man was shot near Sycamore Avenue and Church Street. Jesus Frye, 15, of the 1900 block of Evergreen Avenue, was charged as an adult. Who can help To report gang activity, call the Hanover Park Police Department at (630) 372-4400. Assistance for youths who need help dealing with gangs or face other troubles is available from these local agencies: • Hanover Park Social Services Office (630) 372-4417 <a href="http://www.hanoverparkillinois.org" target="new">hanoverparkillinois.org</a> • Bloomingdale Township (Southeast Hanover Park) (630) 529-7715 <a href="http://www.bloomingdaletownship.com" target="new">bloomingdaletownship.com</a> • Hanover Township (Northwest Hanover Park) (630) 837-0301 <a href="http://www.htonline.info" target="new">htonline.info</a> • Hanover Township Youth and Family Services (630) 483-5799 <a href="http://www.htonline.info/youth.asp" target="new">htonline.info/youth.asp</a> • Hanover Township Astor Avenue Community Center (630) 540-9085 • Schaumburg Township (Northeast Hanover Park) (847) 884-0030 <a href="http://www.schaumburgtownship.org" target="new">schaumburgtownship.org</a> • Wayne Township (Southwest Hanover Park) (630) 231-7140 • Hanover Park Community Resource Center Living Christ Lutheran Church 1402 Arlington Drive (630) 837-2100 <a href="http://www.hpresource.org" target="new">hpresource.org</a> • DuCAP (DuPage County Area Project) (630) 671-8000 <a href="http://www.ducap.org" target="new">ducap.org</a> • Centro de Informacion 2380 Glendale Terrace #8 (630) 550-5131 <a href="http://www.centrodeinformacion.org" target="new">centrodeinformacion.org</a>

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