Lake in the Hills cops: Gangs are here

Gangs have arrived in Lake in the Hills and it is on residents to partner with police and help chase them out of town, police said.

At an emotional meeting Wednesday night that drew more than 100 people, police asked residents to be vigilant about calling in any suspicious activity, to report kids hanging out beyond curfew and to form a neighborhood watch group.

It marked the first time Lake in the Hills police had ever met with the community to discuss gang issues

"There's many more of you than there are of them," said Police Chief Jim Wales. "The bad people need to be afraid of the good people."

Wales also laid out what's gone on in Lake in the Hills these past three weeks and outlined what police are doing.

Police say they are dealing with less than a dozen people between 14 and 30 years old from two rival Hispanic gangs and that they have arrested the core members operating in the 100 block of Pheasant Trail, where the activity has remained.

Three July gang fights - two that involved weapons such as baseball bats, knives and hammers - resulted in multiple arrests and serious charges.

Mazin Awwad, 17, of the 100 block of Pheasant Trail, and Jonathan M. Rodriguez, 18, of the 100 block of Village Creek Drive, both admitted gang members, are charged with aggravated battery and mob action, both felonies.

Rodriguez faces an additional misdemeanor charge of unlawful contact with street gang members.

Police also took into custody a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy for aggravated battery, mob action and unlawful contact with street gang members. Police say they are gang associates.

Also, Kyle R. Hayes, 19, of the 1300 block of Cunat Court in Lake in the Hills was charged with mob action, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, disorderly conduct and street gang activity for his part in a July 19 gang-related brawl in the 100 block of Pheasant Trail.

Awwad, Rodriguez and Hayes remain behind bars at the McHenry County jail.

Meanwhile, the department has instituted overt surveillance and hourly patrols to the neighborhood.

"You've seen probably more police than you've ever seen in the last couple of years," Wales said. "We have adopted a zero tolerance to people behaving in a way that we think is unacceptable."

But some residents objected to the increased police activity and yearned for safer times.

Delphine Locascio, for example, has lived in the 100 block of Pheasant Trail for 20 years and was used to keep all of her doors unlocked.

"I don't live in Cabrini Green," she said to rousing applause. "I live in Lake in the Hills, a quiet neighborhood."

The meeting was not without drama.

A woman who identified herself as the sister of three young men recently arrested for their involvement in gang crimes, said her house isn't the only problem and took exception when another woman suggested that her family is the issue.

The sister, who cursed at the woman and nearly came to blows with her, had to be restrained by several officers, who escorted her and the rest of her family members out of the meeting.

"One thing the gangs have learned is to unite," said resident Brian Bush. "Until we get to know one another, until we get together, we're going to always lose and the gangs are going to win."