Mar 25, 1988 Chicago Man With Pit Bull Shot Battling Cop

Chicago - A 21-year-old man who was allegedly intimidating people with his pit bull terrier was shot in the ear Wednesday night after he got into a fight with an undercover youth officer, whose gun discharged accidentally, police said.

Eric Baker, who gave police an address that turned out to be false, ``was panhandling money from people, using his pit bull,`` said Sgt. Paul Carroll of the Belmont Area. ``He was intimidating them.``

Baker approached Youth Officer Jose Reyes, of the special investigations unit, who was walking on the sidewalk in the 900 block of West Belmont Avenue, while the officer was checking reports that teenage prostitutes were in the area.

After Reyes refused Baker`s demand of money, Baker allegedly punched the plainclothes officer in the face, Carroll said. Baker then yelled to his dog, ``Sic him.``

Reyes yelled that he was a police officer and pulled out his gun, as Baker continued to fight with him. During the struggle a 16-year-old companion of Baker jumped into the fight, according to police.

Reyes` partner, Lawrence Corey, jumped from a nearby unmarked police car and pulled the teenager off the policeman and handcuffed him. As the fight continued, Reyes and Baker fell to the sidewalk, and the policeman`s gun accidentally discharged, police said.

The dog then bit Reyes in the right hand and in the lower left rib cage, causing a five-inch gash. Baker, who was charged with aggravated battery and attempted robbery, was in fair condition in Illinois Masonic Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his right ear. Reyes was treated and released from the same hospital.

The 16-year-old was charged with simple battery in a juvenile petition. The dog was turned over to the city animal control center.

In a separate shooting early Wednesday, a 62-year-old man described by police as ``a career criminal`` was wounded during a shootout with detectives who were trying to arrest him on charges of shooting at other officers.

Sidney Carver, who police said went to prison when he was 15 years old, was wounded from gunfire from three detectives who were staking out a second floor apartment at 912 W. Agatite Ave., according to Carroll.

Carver was being sought on warrants charging that he had robbed the Brown Elephant resale shop, 3508 N. Broadway, once last summer and again on March 3. While he was fleeing the last time, Carver allegedly shot at two tactical unit officers who were responding to the report of a robbery in progress.

Police learned that Carver was staying with a friend at the Agatite Avenue courtyard building. Detectives John Fitzsimmons, Ronald Yawger and Joseph Guzolek, of the Belmont Area violent crimes unit, staked out the apartment and when Carver open the door at about 3 a.m., he began shooting at the three police officers, Carroll said.

Carver surrendered after being shot in the left arm. Carver was in good condition in Weiss Memorial Hospital. He was charged with two counts of armed robbery and four counts of attempted murder, Carroll said.

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Chicago Tribune
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1988-03-25/news/8803030571_1_pit-bull-police-charged
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