Blotter: Pepper Spray at High School, Panera Cares Assault

The following items are based on police reports from Chicago's 19th Police District.

The district provides police protection on Chicago's north side, from Lawrence Avenue on the north, Fullerton Avenue on the south, the Chicago River on the west and Lake Michigan on the east. 

Wednesday, Jan. 23

Cops Catch Muggers at Gas Station

Police arrested a 27-year-old man and 27-year-old woman in Lincoln Park around 2:15 a.m. when the man reportedly robbed a 20-year-old woman and then fled in an sport utility vehicle driven by the woman. The man originally crossed paths with the victim in the 800 block of Diversey Parkway near the Brown Line CTA train station, according to the report. He reportedly asked her for a cigarette.

The woman told him no and kept walking toward the train station. However, when she arrived, the station was closed and the man caught up to her, police say. When she walked away, an SUV followed her, and soon after, the man was on her tail. When the woman said, “I’ll give you a cigarette,” the man reportedly threw her on the ground and stole her purse.

When she called to report the robbery, police sent out a message to patrolling vehicles. One officer saw the duo at a gas station on the corner of Fullerton and Seminary and took them into custody. The woman confessed, according to police.

Thursday, Jan. 24

Impostor Poses as Cop at Local Accident Scene

Police said a middle-aged man posing last week as a cop at a Lincoln Park accident scene is not listed in the city's official officer database.

The suspect was at a Jan. 24 car crash that occurred around 10 a.m. near the intersection of North Lincoln and West Wrightwood avenues in Lincoln Park, according to the police report. The report did not indicate whether or not the man was involved in the crash.

• Read the full story on Lincoln Park Patch.

Wednesday, Jan. 23

Suspect Denies Sexual Abuse at Birthday Celebration

A man reportedly sexually abused a Roscoe Village woman last week at a local apartment complex.

Police and Chicago Fire Department personnel responded to the Silent Cooperative Apartments, 2500 W. Belmont Ave, around 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23, according to the police report. The victim, who was 32 years old, was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where she was reportedly treated for a reaction to a mix of drugs and alcohol.

• Read the full story on North Center-Roscoe Village Patch.

Thursday, Jan. 24

Teen Swats Teacher at Lake View High School

Officers were called to Lake View High School Thursday around 11 a.m. when school officials reported a battery between a student and a teacher. A 17-year-old student tried entering the classroom late after the bell rang, and as a result, got in a verbal fight with a 32-year-old teacher, according to the police report.

However, when the teacher yelled, “Stop! What are you doing?” and pointed at him, the teen slapped her hand away. He was sent to the dean’s office. The woman didn’t want to pursue charges at the time.

Friday, Jan. 25

Trio Arrested After Attempted North Halsted Robbery

Police arrested three men around 2 a.m. Friday in the 3400 block of North Halsted Street, when patroling officers noticed them robbing a 22-year-old man on the street, according to the report. Police said the victim was walking on the sidewalk when a 37-year-old man who was part of a group said, “Hey I need some money. Give me some money.” When the victim said he didn’t have any money, the man replied, “You got a fat wallet. I know you got some money in there.”

When the man tried to walk past, one of the men grabbed his arm, the report says. The victim broke free and those in the group tried to grab him again, swinging to punch him in the face. The victim dodged the hits. He then ran to the police officers for help. Around that time, a 35-year-old suspect “began to make aggressive and rude comments to on-scene officers in an attempt to rile up the other detained subjects who out numbered officers on-scene 5 to 2.” However, police secured the three and placed them in custody.

Man Caught Boozing in Panera Cares Bathroom

A 44-year-old drunken man was arrested around 10 a.m. Friday when he was reportedly found drinking in the bathroom at Panera Cares, 616 W. Diversey Parkway. Police say he then tried to hit an employee with a glass bottle of Jagermeister. John Brower, of the 600 block of West Deming Place, was charged with aggravated assault. He is due in court on March 12, according to the police report.

When Brower raised the bottle to hit the 38-year-old employee, police say the employee punched the man in the face in self-defense. Police arrived and detained Brower until an ambulance came to pick him up, the report said. He was banned from the restaurant.

Thursday, Jan. 24

Shot Gang Member Goes Missing

Police responded around noon Thursday to a call about a man being shot in the 1200 block of West Sunnyside Avenue near Harry S. Truman College, but when they arrived the man wasn’t there. Officers soon pulled over a white car with five bullet holes in the back and a shattered window, they said. Driving it was the victim’s 46-year-old mother.

While police couldn’t find the man, they know who he is— a 27-year-old member of the gang Black P Stones, according to the report. The car was towed for investigation and there were no reports as of Monday regarding a man with a gunshot wound being admitted to an area hospital. 

Friday, Jan. 25

Teen Pepper Sprayed at Area High School

Police arrested and detained an 18-year-old woman who they said walked into a bathroom at Uplift Community High School and pepper sprayed a teen during a fight. She was charged with aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon and is due in court March 12.

The woman reportedly went into a bathroom on the school’s third floor and got in a verbal fight with a 17-year-old classmate. That’s when she reportedly pepper sprayed the victim. The suspect was taken to the school’s police room by security until police arrived and officially arrested her.