Serving the Loop and Near North neighborhoods of downtown Chicago
Battery complaint after altercation with panhandler

July 6, 2011 – An incident with a panhandler outside House of Blues in May has led to a battery complaint but so far no arrest.

It happened on May 17 at about 7 p.m. An unidentified man who worked at Marina City, most likely at HOB, told police a young black male was handing out to patrons flyers that solicited money. When told to leave, the panhandler spit on the employee twice. After taking what the police report describes as a “fighter’s stance,” the panhandler then ran north on Dearborn Street.

He is described as 20-23 years old, approximately five-foot-seven-inches tall, 155 pounds, with short black hair, wearing black pants and a gray hooded sweatshirt.

In February, police were called to HOB twice after fights broke out that resulted in minor injuries.

Just after midnight on February 12, a woman was punched in the face after confronting another patron who she said was “acting unruly” toward another table. A man who was with the other patron punched the woman twice, cutting her upper lip. He ran off but left his cousin, who gave the man’s name and cell phone number to the victim and police.

A similar incident happened less than two weeks later. On February 21 at about 9:40 p.m., a man from out of town told police he was standing in line after a concert when several people made “derogatory comments” about his hair. When he confronted the group, the comments stopped but started up again a short time later. This time when he confronted the group, he was pushed, grabbed, and had his nose broken. He was taken by ambulance to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

He did not file charges against his assailant, a Hispanic man with short brown hair who police described as “highly intoxicated.” The man claimed he was the victim and had a bottle thrown at him for no apparent reason. After speaking with witnesses and HOB security, police could find no evidence of a bottle being thrown.

John Hatfield

(Above) Playing that night at HOB was the Australian band “Parkway Drive,” whose music is described as “extreme metal and hardcore punk.” (Photo by John Hatfield.)

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