Anti-gang-fraternizing strategy brings 2 Elgin arrests, adds McHenry County

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20-year-old Jonathan Castenada of the 600 block of North Crystal Street, Elgin, charged with unlawful contact with a street gang member, unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor, obstructing a peace officer and obstructing identification

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Updated: March 17, 2012 10:22AM

ELGIN — The first two arrests have been made under a plan by the city that seeks to disrupt the Latin Kings street gang operations through a court order forbidding certain gang members from hanging around with each other.

And McHenry County officials have begun using a similar strategy against the same gang’s members in that county.

Elgin police spokesman Lt. Glenn Theriault revealed Wednesday that shortly before 1 a.m. on Feb. 3, members of the Elgin Police Department Unit for Special Assignment (USA Team) stopped a vehicle at McLean Boulevard and Main Lane after they saw someone throw a beer can out of one of its windows.

Theriault said one of the vehicle’s occupants, 20-year-old Jonathan Castenada of the 600 block of North Crystal Street, Elgin, ran away. After a short chase, Castenada was arrested but at first gave officers a false name, Theriault said.

Theriault said that once Castenada’s true identity was learned, officers determined he was wanted on a burglary warrant, as well as being in violation of a civil order prohibiting him from associating with other Latin King members. Castenada was charged with unlawful contact with a street gang member, unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor, obstructing a peace officer and obstructing identification.

The second person arrested for violation of the judge’s civil order was 19-year-old Leo Perez of the 500 block of North Airlite Street, Elgin.

Perez also was named in the civil court case brought against Latin Kings members in 2010, and he was one of the other occupants of the vehicle carrying Castenada. Perez was charged with unlawful contact with a street gang member and unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor.

Police said two other Elginites in the vehicle — 18-year-old Fabian Pena of the 1300 block of Todd Farm Drive and 19-year-old Melinda Rodriguez-Mundo of the 100 block of South Gifford Street — were charged with unlawful possession of an alcoholic beverage by a minor.

All four are scheduled to appear in Elgin Branch Court on Feb. 24.

Elgin’s civil case against the Latin Kings was initiated in late 2010 by the Elgin Police Department and the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office to combat gangs. It is based on the 1993 Illinois Street Gang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act.

“Through joint cooperation from the Kane County State’s Attorney’s office and Elgin Police Department, we are committed to utilizing all legal avenues against street gangs in the Elgin area,” said Police Chief Jeff Swoboda.

McHenry, too

Meanwhile, McHenry County State’s Attorney Louis Bianchi announced this week that his office has filed a similar lawsuit against Latin Kings in that area.

“While the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office has previously prosecuted individual gang members, this initiative seeks to destroy the infrastructure of the gang and promote zero tolerance of gang-related activity,” Bianchi said in a press release. “The act, passed in 1993 by the Illinois General Assembly, recognizes that the activities of street gangs operating throughout Illinois present a clear and present danger to public order and safety, a danger which no society should be required to endure without recourse.

“Gangs continue to survive, ever present in our streets, parks and schools. This injunctive lawsuit is a strong tool to combat the existence of street gangs and thwart gang-related criminal activity.”

The lawsuit seeks to classify Latin Kings members as members of a “street gang,” as defined by the act, and seeks to stop identified gang members from associating with each other; possessing or discharging firearms; using, possessing, delivering or manufacturing illegal or controlled substances; directing or participating in assaults and batteries; and applying gang graffiti to public or private property.

Bianchi said that in addition to injunctive relief, the lawsuit seeks monetary damages and “any other relief considered equitable and proper by the court.”

Bianchi thanked the Harvard city police department for its help in preparing the case.