Four Cops Injured In Montrose Beach Melee; 10 Arrested [UPDATE]
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 14, 2014 4:30PM
An unpermitted concert at Montrose Beach morphed into a mini-riot Sunday afternoon, resulting in injuries to four police officers responding to the fracas and a host of arrests.
The incident began around 7:30 p.m. when bicycle police tried to break up a fight at the show. Around 6:50 p.m. a 911 caller reported someone was hit in the head with a bottle on the 4500 block of North Simonds Drive. Another 911 call 10 minutes later reported a fight involving as many as 50 people. A Chicago police officer called for backup nearly 40 minutes later after noticing “a man with a gun.” Things broke down from there. (The “Crime in Wrigleyville” blog has a timeline of police scanner activity from the melee.)
When police reinforcements arrived they were pelted with bottles and other projectiles. Two officers were hit with bottles; one was treated for a cut on his head, the other complained of dizziness. Two other cops were hit with debris and refused treatment.
The Tribune reports 10 people were arrested. The call for assistance brought out police from as far west as O’Hare Airport and as far south as 31st Street. The concert that was the center of the disturbance was a “Tamborazo Beach Party” that didn’t have the proper permits to stage a show on Park District property. According to Uptown Update, there was no security at the event and alcohol was flowing. Once the situation was under control, police closed down the beach early.
Update 4:05 p.m. Here is video of the fight.