Fasten your seatbelts.
Here is some scanner action, night of
Friday, May 2 into the morning of Saturday, May 03, 2008. Much of the action heard is not included here - only the most violent. Parking violations, noise complaints and other minor incidents are not included in this report. There was plenty of violence, most of which you will never hear about on the evening news or read about in the Chicago Tribune or Chicago Sun-Times.
Keep in mind that this is a small portion of the night: From 11:39 p.m. Friday to 1:42 a.m. Saturday. It is, unfortunately, fairly representative of what happens in Chicago on a typical weekend night. The excerpts below are as I wrote them down as I heard them, and are from a variety of Chicago Police districts around the city. Exact addresses are changed to blocks and peoples’ names omitted to protect privacy.
11:30 PM - Shots fired, 1200 block N. Campbell - “gang”
11:47 PM - Man with a gun walking around at 47th and Ashland
11:50 PM - Person shot, 1800 block N. California, police looking for “two male Hispanics”
11:51 PM - Man has a gun, 1800 block N. Kedzie
11:54 PM - Dispatcher says there is a “wolf or coyote” spotted at Clybourn and Fullerton. Cops on radio enjoy this. “Can we shoot?” “Tranquilizer darts.” “Come on, it’s only a wolf, you don’t have to shoot it.” “Can we shoot?” “Wolves are endangered.”
12:02 AM - Officer arranges for “removal” of a dead 19 year old female, gunshot to the head, from the ER of South Shore Hospital.
12:05 AM - Man “masturbating in the park.”
12:08 AM - Man with a gun threatened to shoot the caller on 5500 block W. Diversey, caller says he is now walking back toward him.
12:09 AM - Person down, 1400 block W. Farragut Avenue.
12:11 AM - Need evidence technician (ET) to photograph “the victim,” who is in critical condition at Mt. Sinai Hospital.
12:12 AM - Persons waving guns at 53rd and Ashland. They are driving a white Pontiac Bonneville. Reported by people who waved down a police officer.
12:20 AM - Shots fired, 1300 block of (unintelligible).
12:28 AM - ET requested in 10th District to photograph a victim, a “26 year old male black.” One of the perpetrators is in custody.
12:31 AM - Van hit a female “on the expressway” near 1800 block of N. Ashland. Illinois State Police are investigating.
12:34 AM - Two female Hispanics flashed a gun at Ohio and Ashland, then drove eastward. Purple car - another officer calls in that car is seen going northbound on Ashland, chase ensues. “Approaching Augusta…” Moments go by; “Stopped them in 1000 block of N. Ashland. “Request a female officer for a search."
12:38 AM - Requesting backup for large fight at a house, 800 block of Sacramento.
12:42 AM - Cop radios from house fight, “disregard”
12:42 AM - Person with a gun, somebody’s girlfriend driving dark red or maroon Pontiac with Texas plates. “They’re still in the area” (13th, 14th Districts). Search ensues. Cop on radio, “That car’s been up in this area all night, by Potomac and (unintelligible), was in the are when those shots were fired.”
12:44 AM - (Responding to above) “We stopped that car earlier… We’ll get those plates to you…”
12:47 AM - Person shot, Belmont and (?)
12:47 AM - “We’ve rounded everybody up at (2900 block, Devon).”
12:48 AM - Assault, victim being followed by assailant in 7000 block, N. California. “No further info.”
12:54 AM - “You can cancel that ambulance.”
12:55 AM - Officer reports that a victim is “stable, gunshot wound to the right arm,” ET requested to photograph a silver Ford Taurus. Nobody in custody in the 11th District.
12:59 AM - 5800 block, N. Magnolia - 30 kids fighting out front.
1:05 AM - “Everybody’s dispersed” from fight on Magnolia.
1:04 AM - Robbery; two male blacks, 300 block E. Garfield on Green Line CTA train, took two cell phones and $60.00 cash.
1:14 AM - 8500 block, Marquette; breaking into house, man banging on windows and doors.
1:22 AM - “Shots fired.” “MORE SHOTS!” at Spaulding and Kimball.
1:26 AM - “Subjects ran south from Evergreen.”
1:38 AM - Male posing as a cop, 4400 block, S. ???.
1:39 AM - Westbound SUV on Division, people throwing beer cans as they drive.
1:42 AM - Male Hispanic walking with a gun, 47th and Troupe.
1:42 AM - 50 people fighting on street, 16th and Karlov, throwing bottles at police.
Governor 
