LINCOLN PARK — Saying Lincoln Park has seen a "disturbing uptick in crime" over the last few weeks, Ald. Michele Smith (43rd) is calling for more police manpower in the neighborhood.
In an email newsletter to constituents Friday, Smith said she intends to "firmly press for additional police officers to be hired and assigned to the 43rd Ward as part of this year's budget negotiations which begin in the coming weeks."
The latest crime happened Thursday evening in the 1600 block of North Dayton Street, according to police.
Around 8:30 p.m., a 26-year-old woman was crossing the street when a man came up from behind her and shoved her to the ground, causing a head injury, police said.
The attacker pinned the woman to the ground, took her purse and ran eastbound through an alley, according to police.
She was treated in an ambulance and released.
Witnesses were able identify the attacker as Dwayne Mason, 21, of the 3400 block of South Martin Luther King Drive, police said. He has been charged with one felony count of robbery, according to police.
The attack comes after an attempted robbery in the 400 block of West Roslyn Place earlier this week and a crime spree targeting kids in late August.
"Clearly, there has been a recent increase in crime in our neighborhood that cannot be tolerated," Smith wrote.
In the meantime, Smith urged residents to call 911 immediately to report suspicious activity.
In neighboring Lakeview, residents and Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) continue to fight for more officers on the street because of a perceived increase in crime.
As of June, police staffing numbers in the Town Hall District, which includes Lakeview and parts of Uptown, Lincoln Square, North Center and Lincoln Park, have grown to levels not seen since 2013.
Lincoln Park sits in the Town Hall District and Near North District.
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