Englewood residents protested outside an apartment building Monday that they said had become a frequent home to paroled sex offenders.
The latest to move-in is Cayce Williams, convicted in the 1997 sexual assault and murder of 20-month-old Quortney Kley. Williams moved to the 6600 block of South Perry Avenue last week from Crystal Lake after residents in that McHenry County city petitioned for his removal.
Williams is on mandatory supervised release — got out of prison in February after serving 24 years of a 48-year sentence, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.
“Why would you dump your pedophilia in Englewood?” Darryl Smith said Monday. “We don’t need any added problems here.”
Smith said he and others in Englewood want local officials to investigate the apartment building, which is just down the street from a park and also near schools. According to the Chicago Police Department, the building’s proximity to the park does not prohibit parolees or sex offenders from living at the address.
Englewood residents distributed fliers outside Williams’ apartment Sunday, urging people to complain to their elected officials and demand residents be notified when sex offenders move into the neighborhood.
Residents gathered there again Monday to demand that the building be shut down, because they believe several released sex offenders live there. According to the National Sex Offender Public Website, over 30 sex offenders have stayed at the building.
A message left with the owner of the apartment building was not returned.
Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th) said the building was not following guidelines required of recovery houses for parolees. He said he’s been in contact with CPD, the Department of Buildings and the Illinois Department of Corrections. The building is not registered as a halfway house or recovery house, according to Chicago police.
A CPD spokesperson said the department is “aware of the community’s concerns” and “monitoring the situation.”
Englewood resident Nicole Vaughn said the main priority of protesters was to make the community informed about local sex offenders.
“I’m upset, I’m livid and something needs to happen,” said Vaughn, who has children.
Tashayanna Young, who lives in the building, said Williams’ arrival is “disheartening.” Young, who has a gofundme page to help her move out, said she tried to communicate with Sawyer and police about the building as early as July.
