Prospect Heights police detectives on May 10, 2017 at about 5:00 p.m. were on patrol in the area of Apple Drive and Milwaukee Avenue when they observed a new model black Chevy Traverse stopped in the middle of the westbound lane of Apple Drive. Officers observed multiple male Hispanic subjects exit the vehicle and approach a male Hispanic victim that had been walking on Apple Drive.
Police saw a verbal confrontation that turned physical when the driver of the vehicle struck the victim in the face with an open hand. The driver and other subjects then grabbed the victim by his clothes and forced him to the rear of the vehicle. The rear hatch opened to reveal other subjects inside of the vehicle as they approached the vehicle with the victim. The driver of the vehicle ordered the victim to enter the hatch of the SUV as other subjects attempted to physically force him into the vehicle.
Prospect Heights Police Officers approached the vehicle and identified themselves as police officers. The victim that was being forced into the trunk was able to get away from the driver and ran to the police vehicle for assistance as the driver re-entered the vehicle. A detective stepped in front of the vehicle, but the driver fled the scene, while accelerating toward, and almost striking the detective. The SUV left the area westbound Apple Drive to Piper Lane and fled northbound on Wolf Road with the rear hatch of the SUV still open.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle but called off the pursuit when it was determined to be dangerous to the public. The incident was gang related, according to Prospect Heights Police Department. The victim discovered by police to be a 20-year-old Belvidere man.
The suspect’s vehicle is described as a black Chevy SUV, possibly a Chevy Traverse, with partial Illinois License Plate “ZX”.
The suspects were described as …
A Male Hispanic driver with long black hair, husky build, approximately 20 years old.
Multiple male/Hispanic suspect with age, height, weight, hair, and clothing not reported by Prospect Heights Police Department.
Apparently the suspects are wanted for attempted kidnapping and aggravated battery to a police officer. Police are gathering information, including video surveillance from the area.
Any citizens with information about this incident are urged to call the Prospect Heights Police Investigations Unit at 847-398-5511.
IMPORTANT ALERT …
Cardinal Note: As of June 5, 2013 — up to and including the date of this article — police incidents related to the above police agency are not reported in real time or within a prompt time period. Police protecting their realm of investigation and police activity, have chosen to use secret military-grade encrypted radios to withhold their police communications, which were previously open to the public and news media via monitoring of public safety scanning radios — with no known negative results locally.
The delayed knowledge or entirely blacked out knowledge resulting from encrypted police communications may protect certain police operations and investigations, but it also puts the public at risk in situations such as when armed and dangerous offenders are at large and when other similar situations occur, such as when desperate offenders of property crimes are eluding police. In other cases, the delayed or blacked out information inhibits or prohibits the possibility of the public providing early witness accounts before a criminal trail goes cold. Citizens are much more likely to recognize or recall suspicious or criminal activity if they are aware of the criminal incident within minutes or hours of its occurrence. The most serious incident involving dire results would be a trail that is allowed to go cold in the case of child abduction.
The lack of real time information from public police dispatch also weakens an effective neighborhood watch program mostly working to prevent property loss, but also working to prevent possible violent crimes.
Lack of real time information from police dispatch also delays public awareness or eliminates public awareness of general hazards and traffic or other situations in every day living in an otherwise economically thriving community.
Police have alternate ways to transmit tactical, operational or investigative information, while still keeping their main public dispatch channels open for the best balance of public safety and police safety.
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