Foxx policies punish police rather than the criminals
By Ray Hanania
March 8, 2023
July 2022 was a bad month for law abiding citizens witnessing two teenagers who wielded weapons that resulted in one Chicago Police Officer being killed six months later, and another Oak Lawn Police Officer being railroaded by a corrupt political movement of injustice that puts the concerns of criminals above the concerns of law abiding citizens.
The suspect who murdered Chicago Police Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso was a known gang member who slipped through the judicial system because of lenient policies towards gun-wielding criminals by Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.
Suspect Steven Montano shot and killed Vasquez-Lasso Wednesday near 5200 S. Spaulding Avenue by Sawyer Elementary school’s playground where kids were playing.
The murder might have been prevented if Foxx was concerned about criminals in gun-related crimes.
Montano and two others were arrested on July 28, 2022 after shooting a man twice in his legs near 2600 block of West 23rd Place in Little Village.
Witnesses identified the suspects in a White Honda Accord with tinted windows which police determined was stolen two days before.
Police spotted the Honda near 26th and Whipple and chased them 5 miles through the city stopping them near 74th Street and Parnell in Englewood before they abandoned the car.
All three were caught and Police found two guns used in the shooting between the car and the route in which the suspects had run. Montano was also suspected of recruiting a minor to commit gun crimes.
Montano was charged with felony aggravated battery with a firearm on July 28, 2022 and the masked driver was charged with felony gun possession. His case is still pending.
Foxx gave Montano “an alternative to traditional prosecution” because of his young age and lack of a previous criminal record — which is how Foxx describes career criminals who escape the law before finally getting caught.
Foxx dropped the felony charges and the resisting arrest charge against Montano three months later. Montano performed 25 hours of community service. And then went on to kill a police officer. Vasquez-Lasso might still be alive had it not been for Foxx’s leniency towards criminals.
This kind of crime pattern involving suspects with guns plays out all the time. Suspects involved in gun shootings are arrested and given leniency. They then go out and commit more crimes.
That’s why I am so concerned about the grave injustice being perpetrated in Oak Lawn against Police Officer Patrick O’Donnell, 32, who with another officer pulled over a vehicle on July 27, 2022 in a routine traffic stop (the day before Montano was arrested in Chicago).
Police smelled marijuana and politely directed the two teenagers in the car to step out of the car and be searched. The driver cooperated and did what he was told. O’Donnell and another officer searched him and had him step to the side.
Police asked Hadi Abuatelah, who was 17 and in the back seat, to step out, but to leave the large bag that was in his hands on the seat. Instead of listening to police, he grabbed the bag which had a loaded weapon and ran.
Police tackled Abuatelah who was on the ground refusing to release the bagged weapon. Police punched him Abuatelah until he relented.
Abuatelah’s family and the Arab American Action Network accused police of brutality. The protestors disrupted Oak Lawn’s Fire and Police Commission hearing Wednesday, yelling, calling people names, and screaming about “injustice.” The Commission couldn’t conduct its public meeting because AAAN protestors didn’t want the real facts to come out.
The Oak Lawn Patch and writer Lorraine Swanson posted a great video of the protests you must watch — Click the Hot Topics link at Hanania.com.
(I always love how activists demand passage of gun and assault weapons bans, except when one of their own has one.)
The Village of Oak Lawn issued a statement saying Foxx refused to respond to enquiries to provide information on the charges against O’Donnell. They were never provided with any of the reports Foxx claims justify indicting and charging O’Donnell.
O’Donnell is being railroaded by Foxx and a system of injustice which puts criminal rights above the rights of law abiding citizens.
Abuatelah, who had a dangerous weapon in his possession, faces a “gun charge” in juvenile court. But we all know nothing will happen with that. Maybe the charge will end up just like with Montano who went on to bigger and more deadlier headlines.
This isn’t about the ethnicity of the suspects. I am Arab American and I recognize that Arabs are often the victims of discrimination. But Arab Americans should not defend criminals when they have weapons.
It is about criminals who use weapons but are never properly punished, and police instead are blamed.
When a police officer tells you to do something, do it. There should be a law that imposes strong punishments against anyone who refuses to do what police officers instruct them to do. And instead of just pretending to punish a teenager, the parents of that teenager should be prosecuted for failing to control their children.
O’Donnell is a hero for protecting law abiding citizens from punks who carry loaded weapons while driving around the neighborhoods. The charges against O’Donnell should be dropped. Criminals with loaded guns should be the prosecuted.
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(Ray Hanania is a former Chicago City Hall reporter and award winning columnist. Visit his website at www.Hanania.com.)
Comments 30
Thank you, Ray
Foxx, Preckwinkle and Evans are largely responsible for rampant increase in crime. Progressive policy, lack of prosecution drive crime. If you don’t punish crime what is the deterrent?
Yes, “Criminals with loaded guns should be prosecuted.”
But Soros, Preckwinkle, Evans and Foxx have demonstrated a complete lack of care for public safety by releasing gun-carrying repeat criminals back to their streets and homes, where they are training ever-expanding waves of criminal youths.
For context, read Rafael Mangual’s “Criminal [In]Justice” chapter 4, pages 75 – 90.
Thank you for the simple truths. Foxx has directly contributed to more crime, is responsible for more death, than any one criminal alone. When will SHE be prosecuted?
I am so with you on this subject…I also have wondered for a long time why the parents(questionable) are not brought in and charged with the neglect of their parental duties. These young thugs are raising themselves with no understanding of right or wrong and no empathy with their fellow human beings. Not one have I heard the politicians or the leaders of the activist groups asking why the parents are not doing their job…..
Excellent, accurate article and I couldn’t agree more!! Foxx appears to be trying to make police the criminals!! If people would let them do their jobs we would have far less crime!!!
Sadly Foxx never will be on the receiving end of Justice. She has much blood on her hands. I believe Ella French’s killer as well as Paul Bauer’s killer and Vasquez were repeat offenders with gun related crimes. Good citizens must stand with rather than against the police. Time was a young minor first offender might be brought home by the cops. Police didn’t do the beat down, the father did. Responsible parenting. The “oh but he was a good boy — he had hopes and aspirations” (his own corner maybe?) comment is so lame. Then the hood smart kids get caught in the crossfire (Hadiya Pendleton). “Shortys” are actively recruited to ferry weapons or to prove themselves into a gang. Social programs as well are wonderful but sadly a lot of money to some bad apple activist who keeps an apartment in the hood has a second home in the suburbs. Takes fancy vacations etc all on the taxpayer dime. Tough on crime goes hand in hand with social programs. Foxx must not be re-elected.
Very true
Ray, thank you for today’s column. Yikes, Fox is going to chase more and more cops out of the profession, then where will we be?
It’s sad that these people had to die because of lenient policies designed to save money for Crook County boss Toni Prek by keeping the jail population low.
Thanks for a great and eye-opening
article.
Ray’s article is spot on. In the end it is the current rules of engagement and the crew in power that make it near impossible for Vallas or McCarthy or even Superman, who want to improve policing and better the city from being successful.
Chicagoans voted who voted this woman also have blood on their hands! One can only hope they wise up at the next election.
They voted for her twice, so don’t hold your breath.
Policing the rule of law is difficult, even in orderly communities.
Some parents fail to teach their kids to cooperate respectfully with police, teachers, bosses, customers, team-mates, anyone…
Kids carrying guns are dangerous criminals.
Solid citizens see the downward community spiral, and leave the city.
Chicago joins other failed cities, like Rome that burned as the emperor fiddled.
She was just voted in in November. There are many examples of what has gone on in Cook County, the repeat offender revolving door. I guess the voters beholden to the Democrats agree with these policies. Why oh why are they never the victim.
A few families have sued when their family members have been robbed and shot by repeat offenders.
I hope Chicago wakes up in this runoff election. If Johnson is elected put the key in the door and run away. You won’t have seen anything yet.
Thank you Mr. Hanania, it is well written and so true.
(You should also make note publicly that those “defund the police” types either very quietly have police at their home on watch or have the taxpayers pay for private security.)
Getting the parents involved is a good idea, but do temper that sentiment with the idea some of those parents couldn’t care less. But your point of getting parents accountable is good; perhaps when they have to pay heavy restitution (or have a lien on their assets) they will get the message. Until people like Kim Foxx are out of office we will just continue to spiral downwards.
Was unaware of this story. Just when I believed it was impossible for Kim Foxx to be more corrupt and incompetent than she is, I am proven wrong. And yet the folks of Chicago and Cook County keep reelecting her. I chose right moving out of Chicago and Illinois.
Thank you for a great column Ray.
Totally agree. Foxx, Evans and Preckwinkle have the blood of officers on their hands, collectively and individually! I applaud the show of support for Officer O’Donnell by Oak Lawn’s administration and fellow officers! Seeing them surround O’Donnell as he was walked into the court building was heartening! The socialist Democrats are trying to make the public believe these criminals are simply misunderstood individuals who have been unjustly persecuted. How many more innocent victims have to suffer at their hands, as well as their families/friends, before it’s clear these are unrepentant repeat offenders who don’t give a twit about harming others or how many times they’re taken into custody? They’re responsible for destruction of property, theft, assault/battery and even murder and must know and receive REAL CONSEQUENCES! And the socialist Dems must be held accountable and thrown OUT OF OFFICE!
The people of Illinois, what is left of them, have no recourse to get rid of incompetents like Kim Foxx. Since she won re-election last November, we are stuck with her until 2026. Illinois, I believe has no recall provision in the law. So, the lawful citizens of the country are stuck with this she devil.
I do not know what it would take to produce a recall provision in the law, but we must start today. If it is the state legislature that has to pass such a provision, then the good citizens of Illinois are stuck up a creek without a paddle. The JB led far left wing zealots in the legislature will only laugh at such an idea. The GOP few have no power to do anything, and will not have any choice in the matter as long as people keep leaving the state in droves.
Conclusion, the good citizens of Illinois are screwed.
Ray has a regular column in the Des Plains Valley News (https://www.southwestregionalpublishing.com/desplaines-valley-news/). I don’t always agree with him but his column is always actual journalism. If you are in their coverage area spend the $20 or $30 to subscribe – they cover the local news instead of just burying you in real estate ads.
Ray, you did a good job with this column. You missed one thing in my mind. Namely, the police, the first responders, the civilians who get clipped by these scumbags they let out of jail, are merely collateral damage in the eyes of people like Foxx.
I’m shocked at the conduct of Preckwinkle and Evans. They’ve both been around a long time and know better. I mean, they’ve been around since old man Daley. I don’t know what’s gotten into them.
Instead of pushing for safe streets, discouraging crime and drugs, and actually bringing investment, jobs, housing for their constituent, they push a bogus race hustle and turn violent criminals and drugs on the streets.
If there’s crime and rampant lawlessness, no one will invest. Black millionaires don’t invest in the hood. The return on investment isn’t there. Walgreens got tax money to open and proceeded to close their stores in the hood due to lack of staff and loss of profit. As soon as the tax breaks went away, Whole Foods bolted Englewood.
If black leaders and black entrepreneurs won’t invest in those places, the solution isn’t to let killers out on the street. The kids who live in these places deserve to be able to play outside. They need nutrition and good schools and they should be able to walk to and from school.
They don’t care if police die. They don’t care about the hundreds of young black men who are shot and killed in Chicago. They don’t care about the kids, the elderly, the homeless, the sick.
They only care about themselves.
Excellent column!
I know multiple lifelong residents who will move out if more-of-the-same Johnson is elected mayor.
Great reporting from a guy from Little Flower Parish! Way to go Ray!
Foxx was elected twice. In Greek we have a name for that ντροπή
The voters created this mess and only the voters can change it.
Thank you for your column, Ray. I always like your writing. You tell it like it is.
Thank you for writing Ray. Was great to hear you on Chicago Way podcast.
Excellent column Ray.
How people re-elected that vile excuse of a person as States Attorney is beyond me. Hopefully, a new mayor with a bully pulpit will stay in front of this issue and wake up the voters that Kim Foxx is absolutely no good and must be replaced by a tough on crime prosecutor’s office.
Yes, all true. I’ve always respected the honest writing of Ray Hanania – honest writing about our Chicago and Cicero and also his honest reporting about his families experience in Palestine/Israel.
That said, we need to start doing more than just complaining about the terrible job Kim Foxx, Judge Tim Evans, Toni P and the $ money bags sponsor the Star Wars Evil Emperor George Soros. John Kass got fired from the Chi Tribune for just mentioning the name “George Soros” and some of the terrible Cult Marxist, Criminal causes Soros funds.
The worst anti Ameican Leftists do take their (evil) causes to the street and annoy, punish their enemies (people like us or Tucker Carlson). We need to take some pages out of Saul Alinsky’s book “Rules for Radicals” and make the conflict personal.
To the best of my knowledge Toni P, Judge Tim Evans, DA Kim Foxx or the Evil Emperor George Soros has never lost a minute of sleep from Chicago Conservative, anti Crime, patriots – DA Kim Foxx chooses not to live in the violent, anarchy, chaotic Chicago City she and her kind of forced on us.
Kim Foxx lives in a quiet, South Suburban home, neighborhood – we should do like the GOP Governor of Texas:
Bus the disruptive, bad, loud perps she’s unleased on our city – send them to her block.
If this BLM, Communist, CTU hack gets elected mayor, the BLM cult marxist, criminal anarchists will have all the key Chicago and Cook County political, law (non) enforcement, public education positions.