Violent crime updates for Jeff Park area …

March 22 shooting near Lavergne and Montrose; man sentenced for 2012 shooting; more armed robberies reported

Gunfire erupted in the 4400 block of North Lavergne Avenue early Friday morning, March 22, according to 16th (Jefferson Park) District police. A passenger in one of the two vehicles involved in the incident suffered a gunshot wound to the upper back as part of a possible road-rage incident, and he is in serious condition at Lutheran General Hospital, police said. Both vehicles then took off in a chase, and the vehicle where the shots were fired from collided with a third vehicle near Nagle and Foster avenues. Three men and one woman fled on foot after the crash, and a gun was found inside their vehicle, police said. No arrests have been made.

A man was sentenced to 5 years for his involvement in firing three gunshots in the 5300 block of West Belle Plaine near Portage Park in March of 2012. Christopher Belsan was given the option of applying for a boot camp program which could get him on parole after completing the 4-month program, according to the 16th District Advisory Committee. Alderman Timothy Cullerton (38th) and court advocacy members of the committee attended the court hearing on Tuesday, March 19.

A man who has been robbing area businesses by displaying a knife may have hit two more stores. Police are investigating whether the recent robberies of a beauty supply shop in the 5900 block of West Lawrence Avenue and a Subway restaurant in the 3000 block of North Central Avenue are related to about a half-dozen other similar incidents.

Also, an off-duty officer recently apprehended a man after he reportedly saw the man take a saw and tools from a garage in the 5800 block of West Giddings Street. A chase ensued, and the suspect allegedly punched the sergeant in the head several times before he was taken into custody. The suspect was identified by police as Jacek Bielawski, age 26, of the 8500 block of West Foster Avenue, Norridge.