Berwyn man known as a high-ranking leader of a local street gang now is in jail awaiting trial after being charged for threatening area residents with a gun.
Bond was revoked for Robert English, 32, 3826 Euclid Ave., Berwyn, at a preliminary hearing Tuesday after he was charged with one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon within 1,000 feet of a park and three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.Cicero gang crimes tactical officers arrested English late Saturday night after a resident reported a man with a gun on the 1300 block of 57th Court in Cicero, police said.According to reports, English was brandishing his gun at unarmed people in the neighborhood in a threatening manner, and police recovered the weapon.Before the arrest, English had been out on bond awaiting trial for child endangerment charges in Berwyn. In May, Berwyn police said he co-hosted a large party at his home where two young children were present, dozens of gang members were cited with disorderly conduct, and one man was charged with felony possession of a weapon.English also was awaiting trial on charges of aggravated battery against a Cicero police officer in February and an armed robbery in Chicago last month.English faces up to 30 years in prison for the charges, according to a Cook County State’s Attorney’s office spokesman.Cicero police spokesperson Dan Proft said English is known as a high-ranking leader of a local street gang and has an extensive criminal history.
“This is someone police are very familiar with, and it’s through dealing with thugs like this guy that police know how the hierarchy and personnel work within a local street gang ... and his position in it,” Proft said, adding that the Cicero Police gang crimes unit has information cards on more than 6,000 known gang members