A Chicago police officer fired a shot at a vehicle driving toward him during a stunt during a “sideshow” in Grant Park, according to a law enforcement source. The driver sped from the scene, but police took four people into custody about 15 minutes later after stopping a similar-looking vehicle that appeared to have a bullet hole in the hood near Sox Park, the source said.
At 3:01 a.m., officers in the Central (1st) District, which patrols the Loop, were notified that officers in another part of the city had spotted a black Chrysler 300 with four occupants, two of whom were carrying large firearms, participating in a street takeover, according to police radio broadcasts. The takeover had been moved to the 700 block of South Columbus Drive and units from downtown were sent to break it up.
An officer monitoring downtown surveillance cameras saw the takeover and reported that participants had also opened a fire hydrant. Arriving officers reported that participants shot fireworks at them and said they saw the Chrysler 300 doing donuts at the intersection of Columbus and Balbo, according to radio broadcasts.
Police placed several “stop sticks” under car tires to prevent drivers from fleeing while officers were issuing tickets.
Shortly after arriving, an officer reported firing at least one shot at a black Chrysler 300 with tinted windows that he said he tried to hit at the scene. No injuries were immediately reported, but an ambulance was brought to the scene in Grant Park to check on the officer.
About 3:17 a.m., officers stopped a Chrysler 300 near Sox Park with tinted windows and decals similar to those reported in the street takeover. An officer who stopped the vehicle said it appeared to have a bullet defect in the hood. Four people were arrested.
Back in Grant Park, officers reported that several vehicles in the area and along Lake Shore Drive were left with flat tires, apparently after sideshow drivers ran over CPD stop sticks.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, known as COPA, said it was sending a team to the Grant Park scene to investigate the officer’s use of force. Under CPD policy, any officer involved in a shooting will be placed on administrative duties for at least 30 days.
CPD released the following statement at 10 a.m.:
Interim* officers from the Chicago Police Department responded to a call for a large gathering at the above location. Officers arrived on scene and deployed a tire pump. A black sedan, in a group of vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed, then drove around the device toward an officer. The officers discharged their firearm and struck the vehicle. No one in the vehicle was hit. The officer suffered an ankle injury and was treated and released from hospital. The driver of the vehicle was subsequently taken into custody. There were no other injuries and no one was hit by gunfire. The research team is conducting research.
The details of this incident, including the extensive use of force investigation, are currently under investigation by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, with the full cooperation of the Chicago Police Department.
The officer(s) concerned will perform routine administrative duties for a period of at least 30 days. This matter remains under investigation and any further questions can be directed to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability at (312) 746-3609.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with the CPD statement at 10:39 a.m.
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