Plan to put cameras in high-crime areas

By Tim Yovich

Police say they don’t have a suspect in Warren’s second homicide of the year.

WARREN — Two city lawmakers are using the city’s latest homicide as a backdrop to press for surveillance cameras in high-crime areas.

“After a while, the bad guys forget about them,” Councilman Robert L. Dean, D-at large.

Dean’s comments came a day after 18-year-old Kendel Cherry of Elm Road was shot to death at Hampshire House Apartments complex on the Southwest Side.

Detective Wayne Mackey said the homicide investigation is just beginning and there are no suspects.

Some council members have been pushing for surveillance cameras in high-crime areas such as Hampshire House.

Dean said he has recommended five “hot spots” where cameras might be installed but noted that the locations would be determined by Police Chief John Mandopoulos and Safety-Service Director William “Doug” Franklin.

There is no legislation pending in council to authorize use of the cameras, nor how to pay for them.

Although cameras may not detect illegal activity, Dean explained, one might show the license plate number of a getaway car.

Councilman Alford L. Novak, D-2nd, said he agrees with Dean.

Novak said criminals have surveillance cameras in their homes and some have them in their cars, and the police should use the same technology.

“It’s a valuable tool, even if they monitor vehicles coming and going,” Novak said, noting the technology is available so police officers can monitor the cameras on a computer screen in their cruisers.

Novak said he believes that if cameras are installed, their locations should be determined by individual ward councilmen.

Dean and Novak said Franklin will be setting up a demonstration with camera vendors to show their capabilities and cost.

Mackey said police were called to the Fifth Street apartment complex about 8 p.m. Thursday. Cherry was found on the sidewalk in the 1400 block, with a bullet wound in his chest. Mackey explained that Cherry was “hanging out” in the complex when there was a disturbance and Cherry was shot to death.

Some witnesses told police that the gunman was wearing a Halloween mask, perhaps one of a wolf, Mackey said, noting he is getting conflicting reports that the shooter fled on foot or in a vehicle.

Cherry’s death is the second homicide of the year in Warren, compared with three during the same period a year ago.

The first homicide was the Jan. 6 shooting death of Triston Aguilar of Saginaw, Mich., during a drug deal at Colonial Street and Adelaide Avenue. Jason Orr, 29, of Ravenwood Drive, is charged with murder in Aguilar’s death.

yovich@vindy.com