Zion police nearly caught in gang crossfire
(http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/news ... S1.article)

July 28, 2007

BY CRAIG PETERSON Special to the News-Sun

ZION -- Police officers performing surveillance of gang activity Wednesday in the 2200 block of Hebron Avenue were nearly caught in the crossfire of a gang-related shooting.

Although the shooters sped away, and the shooting victim and witnesses could not or would not provide their descriptions or identities, the incident resulted in the arrest of a self-described gangbanger on drug charges.

Nelson Rivera, 27, of 3509 N. Lewis Ave., Waukegan, told police he was leaving in his car after visiting a friend at 2208 Hebron Ave. The friend had walked him out to the car, the two had spoken for a couple minutes and, as Rivera was ready to pull out, the shooting started.

Rivera told police he heard three or four shots and bullets hitting his car, one of which shattered the rear window on the passenger side where his friend was standing, although he was now lying on the ground after getting wounded in the foot.

What none of the subjects knew was that several Zion police officers were at the scene in undercover locations because of a report of shots fired in the area the previous night.

The officers kept Rivera at the scene and made a rescue call for the shooting victim.

Police said Rivera and the victim were among a group of individuals who were drinking in the alley prior to the shooting.

Officers then approached the group and cleared the alley. Instead of leaving the area, the officers repositioned themselves in several places around the area.

To preserve chain of custody in the investigation, officers told Rivera his vehicle would have to be towed to the police station -- or an officer would drive it there. Rivera consented to letting an officer drive it there.

Even before entering the vehicle, Sgt. Alan Lother found evidence indicating Rivera was allegedly involved in dealing drugs.

Lother allegedly found a vial of brown powder. Then he observed trace amounts of white powder on the steering column and dashboard. More searching revealed some marijuana, along with a scale and razor blades.

When confronted with the evidence, Rivera allegedly told police he deals small amounts of drugs to supplement his income.

Along with the drugs and paraphernalia, police confiscated $813 and lists of names and telephone numbers in Rivera's car and charged him with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver within 1,000 feet of a park, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana.