25 Arrested After Blackhawks' Stanley Cup Win, City Preps For Thursday Rally
By Rachel Cromidas in News on Jun 17, 2015 3:50PM
Monday was another milestone day for the Chicago Blackhawks, who brought the Stanley Cup home for the third time this decade (on home ice, no less) and sent thousands of fans into the streets of Chicago in a celebratory frenzy.
It was also significant for the 25 over-animated fans (Editor's Note: Idiots. Possibly fans, most definitely idiots.) who wound in trouble with the law; four of them on felony charges that ranged from damage to police property to aggravated battery to a police officer. Five police officers were injured overnight Monday to Tuesday, and six squad cars were damaged in the 19th police district, which encompasses parts of Lakeview and Lincoln Park, authorities told Chicagoist—marring the otherwise "mostly peaceful" celebration.
Matthew Torres, 21, of Lincoln Park, was arraigned in felony court Tuesday afternoon after being accused of choking a police officer Monday night in an attempt to stop him from arresting another man who had been climbing a light pole. Torres, his escapade captured on video by a Tribune reporter, was ordered held in jail in lieu of $50,000 bond. Another man was accused of throwing a glass bottle that hit a police car in Lakeview, and another man was accused of hawking fake Hawks tickets.
In hopes of keeping Thursday's Blackhawks rally at a more peaceful level, fans will be required to procure free tickets online to Soldier Field, where the rally will begin after a parade winds its way there from Monroe and Jefferson Streets. Tickets become available at noon Wednesday.
Heavy rains the past few days have made Grant Park too wet to host the rally as it has in years past, according to CBS.
In a year of exciting firsts for the hockey team, The Blackhawks also became the "ratings kings of hockey" Monday night after achieving record high TV ratings for the winning game. The Hawks also made it onto the cover of Sports Illustrated following their win.