Sergeant Baranowski, the CAPS Beat 2431 Team Leader with Chicago Police Department, gave me a ticket yesterday. An unwarranted ticket I might add.
Sergeant Baranowski personally hunted me down from his 'Man down' call at Morse and Glenwood, using his Chicago Police issued SUV, with blue lights flashing and siren wailing, to pull me over, on my bicycle, at Gleenleaf and Ashland, some 5 blocks away!
Then the Sergeant claimed he, "feared for his safety" and called for back-up.
Then the Sergeant claimed my riding on the sidewalk at 1431 West Morse, in front of Washington Mutual Bank, put the "good citizens" walking on the sidewalk of West Morse in, "grave danger!"
Yes, he used those words.... "grave danger!"
Four blue uniform officers and another sergeant arrived on scene. This was clearly over-kill. I asked him why he feared for his safety and his reply was a "officer that recently got killed in the line of duty".
Sergeant Baranowski proceeded to stare me down and intimidate me for about 10 minutes - with the three blue shirt officers standing behind him - their hands keenly held near their weapons.
One officer did Sergeant Baranowski's dirty work for him and wrote me the ticket for riding my bicycle on the sidewalk at 1431 West Morse - while Sergeant Baranowski and the other three officers kept their eyes on me and their hands near their guns.
Sergeant Baranowski knows me well. But played this whole episode off like he never saw my face before in his entire life. He just kept staring at me from 3 feet away with his hands by his waist. Like an old west gun fighter at high noon.
Sergeant Baranowski had three back-ups following his orders behind him standing the same way he was standing. I was totally out-manned, out-gunned and out-stared. Heck, I didn't even have a gun. Sergeant Baranowski kept saying I might have. He said he saw a, "bulge in my pants". (Insert joke here) I told him to search me three times.
Sergeant Baranowski has tried to intimidate me at CAPS meetings. He once got up from his front seat in the CAPS meeting, walked to my seat and did the exact stare down he used yesterday.
Sergeant Baranowski has a beef with me. And this is the way Sergeant Baranowski handles his beef with me. It's called Police harassment.
Of course I'm going to fight this in court. I didn't ride my bike on the sidewalk at 1431 West Morse. I couldn't have. I was on the north side of the street, on the even numbered side of the street. Odd numbers are on the south side of the street. I was directly under the blue light camera when I took "man down" photo that started this whole chain of events.
Blognotes: I'm going to ask to put into evidence the Police Light Camera's recorded tape at Glenwood and Morse as proof to the fact I was on the north side of the street, on the sidewalk, pushing my bike on the sidewalk. Not riding it.
Someone had the nerve to suggest I contact the Alderman's office about this harassment. Another person said the Alderman is behind this harassment, most likely approving this tactic against me. While I don't know this first hand, I wouldn't put it past him. He's most likely laughing about the fact I got harassed by the police and relishing in my agony. See, the Alderman in the 49th ward has a beef with me too. It's called Alderman harassment.
For the record, it's not what you think. The bulge in my pants was from the camera in my pocket. It has a zoom lens.
26 comments:
2 weeks ago you pitched a fake beef with the police. Now they're screwing with you.
Welcome to Chicago.
It sounds like Sergeant Baranowski needs some mandated TIME OFF to COOL OFF. CAPS meeting management and community policing training are in order as well. Yes, Craig is aggressive and loud when making a point at meetings and has been a critic of police services, but police retaliation is always uncalled for. Sorry, that's not why they get badges and guns.
So, what real criminality on Morse Avenue did this officer speed past after deciding to target Craig? What were the other officers thinking when they arrived to back up the sergeant who feared for his safety? Is this the first time they have been used to enforce a grudge? This is not police/community relations at its finest and it stains the image of the many officers who are out there working for us.
Craig, I foresee a technical difficulty with that blue light camera. Anyone wanna make any bets on that?
Unfortunately, bullies and misanthropes can be found in any group, including an otherwise honorable syndicate like the Chicago Police Department.
It is unacceptable that this should happen to anyone. Good luck with fighting the ticket. Have you considered filing a complaint with the department for harrassment and intimidation against all the officers involved?
- PEACE -
Is this the first time they have been used to enforce a grudge?
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
You must be new here.
Is Sergeant Baranowski's first name Steve? This is total bullshit and I wish everyone would call the 24th district office at 312-744-5907 and complain. I know I plan to.
I guess they weren't too worried about your civil rights Craig. This is what the police always claim at CAPS meetings. I can't count the number of times I have heard them say, "our hands our tied, civil rights blah blah." I never believed that anyway.
To the police: I am very supportive of and appreciate the work you do, but LEAVE OUR BLOGGERS ALONE. Do your job and mind your business please. We are watching.
I guess they weren't too worried about your civil rights Craig.
Huh? What civil rights were violated?
Remember folks, there is always three sides to a story. Yours,, mine and somewhere in between, the truth. Before we all rush to judgement here, let's see how this plays out in court.
ever since the damn bloggers and their damn cameras it's not safe for a cop to snooze in his car anymore
the officers who attend CAPS meetings are specially selected for their strong interpersonal and community relations skills
who's the biggest, most bad ass gang of tough guys in Chicago?
Apparently you were not waring the proper dress code to ride a bike on the sidewalk over the age of twelve in Rogers Park. Everyone knows that the only people the cops allow to ride a bike on the sidewalk over the age of twelve in Rogers Park are the gangbangers.
Has anyone ever seen a cop giving a citation to a gangbanger for riding his bike on the sidewalk. They do it all day long, everyday on Morse Avenue. It would be really interesting to know exactly how many citations were written in the 24th in the last month for riding a bike on the sidewalk. I would be willing to guess there was only 1. Sounds personal to me.
A ticket? That's crazy!
I live on the east side of Sheridan and each time I leave the gate to go on the sidewalk I check both ways, like I'm crossing Sheridan. Many times I've been nearly clipped by cyclists who either don't know or don't care about the law against riding on the sidewalk.
Three days ago in addition to the civilians, two bike cops were riding on the sidewalk. Were they issuing tickets? No, of course not. Were they on their way to a call. Nope, just leisurely moving along.
How can anyone expect civilians to follow the rules if those enforcing those rules don't follow them?
You want a defense Craig? Post yourself on Sheridan at Ennui for a few hours on a nice weekend day. You'll see MANY police on bike pass by on the sidewalk; film them, then ask the Sgt. about that.
bounty paid for photo of bike cop on sidewalk
Craig, get your video camera & head to Ravenswood between Pratt & Schreiber.
Pick a time just before the shift changes, 7:30 AM & 3:30 PM, set up at Albion, Arthur, Wallen or North Shore.
There is a stop sign on Ravenswood for all these streets, the city put them in decades ago at Berny Stone's request, he was the alderman at that time, saying they were there for speed control.
The feds say stop signs should never be used for speed control.
Watch all the private cars going south run the stop signs & watch how they all turn east on Schreiber.
Note the license numbers of those that run the signs & you'll see most of them end in the police station parking lot.
The rest of the day, watch all the police cars blow through the stop signs in both directions.
Then post it online.
Guys, I do believe a police officer has the right to ride on the sidewalk. And I'm not about to start jamming officers for running stop signs. I'll save that one for Tom Mannis at the Bench if he wants.
But I will be taking photos from now on of those citizens who are riding on the sidewalk and I told Sergeant Baranowski after he gave me the ticket - he better be fair across the board - and give ALL CYCLISTS TICKETS he sees from 50 yards away from where he was standing when he claimed he saw me riding on the sidewalk!
Craig:
Sorry about all that, but I really really do wish the police would ticket all the damn bike riders on the sidewalk on Sheridan.
These people use the walk like it was a bike path and act like those of us walking their dogs are the violators of the signs that say "riding your bike on the sidewalk is illegal - violators subject to arrest".
Apparently, this is never enforced unless they want to mess with someone.
I would call intimidation a violation of a citizen's rights.
Craig,
I'm not a psychiatrist, but I play one on TV. I think the real issue here may be the Sergeant's unrequited desire for your "manly bulge". Perhaps that's why he called for the backup. He was scared that his feelings would overcome him and needed the assistance of his fellow officers to keep himself in check.
Perhaps like Senator Craig he is a "wide stance" kinda guy and is all conflicted about his desires.
Sergeant, I suggest you embrace your desire. Celebrate it. Head over to "Man's Country" on Clark or the bird watching site at Montrose and the Lake and indulge yourself. Perhaps you can call Alderman Tunney and he will vociferously defend defend your right to public sex. Alderman Tunney loves the police after he gets mugged, but dislikes them when he gets ticketed for driving while chatting on a cellphone.
Accept yourself as you are Sergeant and you will be happier.
Seriously, trying to intimidate Craig is only going to backfire. Craig relishs being an asshole. If Craigie gets an attorney and access to that video and it shows him not riding on the sidewalk, you will up shit's creek without a paddle. Some cops in NYC just got nailed for making an arrest and the video shows exactly the opposite of what they described.
Can you say 'screwed'? I knew you could.
Here's the thing Chicago Police. You don't have to like cameras. You don't have to like Craig. Even Craig probably doesn't like Craig. However, cameras are the new reality. Deal with it. Just presume that every on duty interaction you have is being taped and you will be fine.
If Craigster gets one of those left wing pain in my ass hates the police attorneys he could make life for that Sergeant more annoying than it apparently is.
OMG Craig, you're lucky you weren't shot. This police officer needs retraining before he really goes off the deep end.
I respect police but have heard enough stories that I'm also afraid of them. If police want to be the good guys they need to act like the good guys. I know it's a hard job, but when you have a badge and a gun you have a responsibility to serve the public and not your own ego.
Craig, if you really believe that cops have a right to ride their bikes on the sidewalk, then so do we.
The Illinois Constitution:
ARTICLE I
SECTION 2. DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION
No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law nor be denied the equal protection of the laws.
It's one thing when a cop on a bike uses the sidewalk in an emergency situation, but ordinary patrol, no way!
That negates any claim of it being dangerous for a bike on a sidewalk.
And when I wrote of cops running stop signs, the worst are on their way to work, they drive like maniacs & never get a ticket.
You keep doing what you do!!! Everyone really appreciates you giving us the true scoop!!!
"Grave danger"? Riding a bike on the sidewalk is now a major crime? Lord, have mercy. . .
Craigie,
instead of whining about this event all over your blog I suggest you either hire some scumbag police hating attorney and get a court order to preserve the video tape or shut the hell up.
If the event happened as you described then Sergeant Hulka needs to be held accountable. I wonder how many tickets he writes for others biking on the sidewalk. Might be a first for him. Interesting question to ask.
I don't know many police sergeants who write those kinds of tickets or tickets period.
Perhaps he is a "clout baby" and "merit" Sergeant. That is an officer who gets promoted not by "testing", but by who he knows. Does he have a relative who is a high ranking politician or exempt member of the department?
These are all questions and possibly you can get the answers.
The cops write ANOVs all the time for riding bikes on the sidewalk. Its a good way to catch the dope dealers transporting the shit. Leave old Sgt B alone. He saw a dangerous situation and took action. Awww the police are out to get me.... Contest the ticket. End of story.
Tell Sargeant Baranowski to pull over the three dozen cyclists who indiscriminately speed down the east side of North Ridge from Rogers to Howard each day tempting the fate of pedestrians and pets.
Unfortunately, the Sarge seems unwilling or unable to get off his donut-glazed derriere to care. I wonder if 'Chicago's Finest' will ever figure out how to 'ethically and consistently' serve and protect the entire District. Will it be in my lifetime?
We are told that we must go to Beat meetings, otherwise, Police will ignore our requests. Well, plaining a Beat meeting one day a month on a weekday at 7:00 and ending at 7:30pm can prove futile.
I suggest encouraging the CAPs District 24 neighborhood representative to seriously review our reasonable requests of assistance. It seems that we are being 'given the party line.'
That is, show up to the monthly meeting. Otherwise, you will not receive your monthly ration of police attention in your Beat at the locations most in need. FWIW, this is what seemed insinuated to me. I certainly hope that I am mistaken.
OTOH, I understand that the more that you call 911 with reasonable complaints, the more willing that the District will routinely 'police your area.' Just make sure that the complaint involves an emergency like "assault in progress," "drug dealing in progress," "mob action in progress," "robbery in progress," "theft in progress,"etc.
Those magic phrases are more likely to get expedited attention. Wishy washy calls are placed in the back of the bus.
I wrote a gangbanger a ticket for riding on the sidewalk just yesterday. I've also written them for jaywalking and lots of other petty shit because I don't like them shitting up the community and am happy to inconvenience them at any opportunity. We're out there doing our best on Morse and elsewhere. Sometimes gang members get tickets, sometime bloggers, sometimes soccer moms. This, truly, is life inthe big city.
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