La Grange Street Sees 'Opioid Crisis' Play Out: Resident

LA GRANGE, IL – A typical suburban family lived in the house on La Grange's Catherine Avenue that has since become known for illegal activity such as drug parties and prostitution.

In the last few years, the wife and kids left. And the husband took a downward turn, neighbors said.

At Monday's Village Board meeting, a couple of neighbors to the house at 812 S. Catherine Ave. told officials that the police department had brushed them off for some time.

It wasn't until a petition last summer with dozens of signatures from nearby households that the police kicked up their involvement, neighbors said.

Last fall, police raided the house, making four felony arrests and three arrests on warrants. (Three of the four felony cases were thrown out because an officer did not show up for a court hearing.)

One of those charged with drug felonies was the homeowner, 52-year-old Paul Nutting.

"We've been basically watching the opioid crisis happening right in front of us on our block," neighbor Paul Rutz told the board.

Rutz said Nutting, who had been a friend, went from taking painkillers to being cut off from them to resorting to illegal drugs, Rutz said.

Then a criminal element started showing up, with up to 15 people living in the house at a time, he said.

The neighbors found white powder on the bushes and told the police about it, Rutz said.

But he said the police did not follow up or answer questions until residents submitted a petition with 38 signatures.

The police then put up a camera and built up a case, with neighbors providing information, Rutz said. The raid occurred in late October.

"Then it kind of went dark again. The people returned to the house. We were still calling," Rutz said.

On Tuesday, an attorney for the home's occupants told a Cook County judge during an eviction hearing that they would hand over the keys to the new owner. The owner got the home through a foreclosure.

Another neighbor, Susan Walton, who has lived in her house for more than four decades, told the Village Board that she once had much confidence in the police department.

In 2023, she said she spoke with an officer at the police station about the home's issues.

She said she told the officer about a man who was living inside a car with skulls on the inside.

"It was very unnerving for us as adults but also for our children," Walton said.

But she said the officer told her that he thought she was worried because the man was not like her.

"To me, that was an insult," Walton said. "That officer did not know me. He was an officer who I expected to give me a little respect. The police department says if you see something, say something."

In his comments, Rutz said neighbors wanted to cooperate with the police.

"When we called police, we never said, 'Do your job' or 'We're taxpayers,'" he said. "We said, 'What can we do to help?'"

In response, Village President Mark Kuchler said he would be happy to meet with residents. He said he hoped the eviction would happen.

Rutz said, "All I'm asking for is we can't be ignored."

"Agreed," Kuchler said.

Trustee Beth Augustine said the village staff doesn't have the time to tell the Village Board about everything they're doing every day.

"I would say I found out a little later in the game about how deep the issues were down in your neighborhood," Augustine said. "I know that you felt that it didn't go as well as it could have. But I just do want to give a shoutout: I'm very proud of our police work and how they handle themselves and what they're involved with on a daily basis."