Pubdate: Thu, 31 Aug 2006
Source: Park Ridge Herald-Advocate (IL)
Copyright: 2006 Park Ridge Herald-Advocate
Contact:  http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-newsstand?paper2=pr
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4134
Author: Jennifer Johnson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

CHARGE: DRUG-INDUCED HOMICIDE

A man police have identified as a Chicago drug dealer has been 
charged in connection with the June death of Park Ridge teenager 
Joseph Krecker.

Corey Crump, 35, of the 1700 block of North Austin Avenue, Chicago, 
has been charged with drug-induced homicide, a class X felony, for 
allegedly selling Krecker a lethal dose of heroin laced with the 
synthetic drug fentanyl. If convicted, he could face from six to 30 
years in prison, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

Krecker, 17, was found dead inside his SUV June 6 near Monitor and 
Fullerton avenues in Chicago with several foil packets containing a 
substance believed to be heroin in his hand, a police report stated. 
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office ruled that Krecker died 
from a mix of heroin and fentanyl, Chicago police said.

Fentanyl is a narcotic that is 80 to 100 times stronger than heroin, 
police said.

Crump is being held at Cook County Jail on an $80,000 bond. His next 
court date is Sept. 12. He is the first person to be charged with 
homicide in connection with a death caused by fentanyl-laced heroin, 
Chicago police said.

Crump was arrested by the Chicago Heroin Task Force following an 
investigation of a drug market in the area of Ferdinand Street and 
Harding Avenue on Chicago's West Side. Called Operation Broken Heart, 
the investigation involved undercover agents posing as Park Ridge 
teens purchasing drugs, said Sgt. Charles Daly of the task force.

"The intelligence and leads we gathered in that investigation 
identified Crump as the subject who actually delivered the drugs to 
Joe [Krecker]," Daly said.

Jack Krecker, Joe's father and deputy police chief with the Franklin 
Park Police Department, assisted the Heroin Task Force in its 
investigation, providing detectives with his son's contacts and 
places where he may have purchased heroin. Park Ridge police were 
also involved in the investigation, Daly said.

In addition to Crump, the Heroin Task Force has arrested a number of 
other drug dealers operating along the 400 block of North Harding 
Avenue on Chicago's West Side, Daly said. This area, said Daly and 
Jack Krecker, was a popular spot for teens for adults from Park Ridge 
and other area suburbs to purchase heroin and other drugs, like 
marijuana and cocaine.

Krecker said Park Ridge teens could drive down to the area and 
receive protection from the drug dealers against crimes like 
carjackings and robberies because the dealers wanted their business.

In addition to Joseph Krecker, one other Park Ridge resident is known 
to have died this year from heroin laced with fentanyl. Jonathan 
Krischke, 22, died March 9 at Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago. 
Park Ridge police said it is not known where Krischke obtained the 
heroin that killed him.

The Chicago Heroin Task Force was launched following a string of 
deaths linked to fentanyl-laced heroin. According to the Chicago 
Police Department, the heroin-fentanyl mix has caused over 180 deaths 
in Cook County since the spring.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman