Cops Brandish Assault Rifle, Hurl Coffee At Motorcyclists Downtown
By Stephen Gossett in News on Jan 23, 2017 3:28PM
Update, 1 p.m.:
Anthony Guglielmi, Director of Communications of the Chicago Police Department, told Chicagoist via email that police are allowed to carry assault rifles as pictured. "We confirmed with the range staff at the academy, and that is one of the proper ways officers are permitted to carry a departmental issued assault rifle," Guglielmi said. "The firearm was pointed down and not directed at any individual "
Original:
A Chicago police officer brandished an assault rifle on State Street downtown on Saturday afternoon at a motorcyclist, according to a witness. Video footage uploaded on YouTube on Sunday also appears to show a police officer throw his coffee at a moving motorcyclist just a few blocks north of the same vicinity. The coffee incident also happened on Saturday, the Redditor who posted it told Chicagoist.
A police vehicle was in pursuit of at least one motorcyclist riding southbound on State Street, south of Lake Street, at around 4 p.m. on Saturday, just hours after the massive Women's March on Chicago ended, according to photographer Rick Majewski (images above). The police vehicle reportedly pulled over near Washington Street when it encountered traffic; the motorcyclist rode on, in between stopped traffic. When other motorcyclists from a group then rode south on State, from near Lake, passing the police vehicle, an officer approached at least one rider while bearing what appears to be a magazine-fed assault rifle.
"The officer in the squad car that pulled over got his assault rifle out of the trunk and was walking out into the middle of the street." Majewski told Chicagoist by email. "The motorcycles leaned to the left to stay well clear..." The cop then went "back to the trunk of his squad car" and returned the gun, Majewski said.
Also, a video posted to YouTube and Reddit on Sunday appears to show a Chicago police officer throw a cup of coffee at a motorcyclist who was riding in a pack in River North. It happened just north of the rifle incident, according to Redditor llanox, who said he uploaded the clip but was not with the group riding that day.
The 34-second GoPro footage shows a group of multiple sport-bike motorcyclists riding east in the 100 block of West Hubbard Street. The rider with the camera waves at what appears to be an officer as the motorcycle is about to pass, then the officer throws his cup—a cup of coffee, according to the video description, at the motorcyclist. The motorcyclists then turn the corner, heading southbound on State St.
"I got you on camera, bro!" a voice is heard yelling. "I got you!"
Anthony Guglielmi, Communications Director for Chicago police, said he had not seen the video before Chicagoist requested comment. "The actions of the officer are very concerning, and I have forwarded the video link to the Internal Affairs Bureau to begin an investigation," he told Chicagoist via email. Guglielmi did not yet offer comment about the rifle incident.
The YouTube user who uploaded the video has also posted three other clips, all of which show some manner of motorcycle tricks being performed, including standing wheelies, filmed via GoPro.
This post will be updated as necessary.