Thread: Chicago police arrest 81 in overnight raids, mostly for drug and weapons offenses

Chicago police arrest 81 in overnight raids, mostly for drug and weapons offenses

• By DAVID CAPLAN

Feb 25, 2017, 4:24 AM ET

The Chicago Police Department conducted a series of overnight raids from Thursday into Friday that resulted in 81 arrests, mostly for drug- and weapons-related offenses, Supt. Eddie Johnson said Friday.

The raids, focused on the city's South and West Side neighborhoods, were "focused on the underlying source of crime in these areas: the sale of narcotics," Johnson said at a press conference Friday afternoon.

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Watch the "FB Live" presser recap related to results of overnight raids and arrests https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoPoliceDepartment/videos/10154060389731534/ …
1:39 PM - 24 Feb 2017

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Of the 81 people arrested, Johnson said 61 are previously convicted felons, 49 are documented gang members, 19 have previously been arrested on gun charges, 14 are currently on parole, and 65 have been previously identified by police to be at a higher risk to be a victim or offender of gun violence.

"There are repeat gun offenders that one, don't care they're on parole, two, don't care about the fact they're already previously convicted felons," Johnson said.

Police are still looking for 40 people targeted in the raids, and said another raid in the coming weeks will have federal assistance.

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CPD oonducted overnight raids, 81 arrests. 62 were convicted felons & 14 on parole selling drugs. 19 arrested before for guns. Briefing @ 3p
8:08 AM - 24 Feb 2017

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Twelve firearms were also seized by police during the raids, Johnson said.

Anthony Riccio, chief of organized crime, said, "One of the guns we took off the street ... is actually a machine gun capable of firing 40 to 50 rounds in just a matter of seconds."

Johnson added, "We are almost double in gun arrests than we were the same time last year -- that's a ridiculous number."

Drugs were also seized in the raids, which had been planned for about three weeks.

"Narcotics and narcotic sales is the thing that allows the buying of guns," Riccio said.

Johnson urged lawmakers at every level of government to help with stemming Chicago's seemingly out of control gun violence.

"CPD can do better, our judicial system can do better, our state legislators can do better. It takes all of us," he said. "If you're OK every day sitting by watching these people die and that's OK with you, then good luck on that. But if you care at all, you should be helping the city do something about this violence."

Johnson said stricter punishment for repeat gun offenders would stem the violence, because possible offenders would know the severity of the consequences and act as a deterrent from picking up a gun in the first place.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/chicago-pol...ors_picks=true

Where are the illegal alien raids?

Gang members are a great start for Chicago. I am sure there are many illegals that got arrested, Now if they hold them will be a different thing by the sounds of the court system and legislatures.

It sounds like they focused on "gun control" more than they did anything else.

Good getting the gang members though.

Police are still looking for 40 people targeted in the raids, and said another raid in the coming weeks will have federal assistance.

Glad to see the feds assisting. Hopefully they will help Chicago keep their eyes on the ball which is to do something about these awful murders and shootings. Maybe focusing on bad guys with guns will lead to some charges for some of those murders.

Chicago is a sanctuary city