5-May-21 – Two adults and at least six juveniles were arrested over the weekend as police wrangled large groups of teens in the Loop and River North.

On both Saturday and Sunday nights, more than 100 teens ran through the streets and fought – with themselves and passers-by – along Washington Street, State Street, and Wabash Avenue, according to Chicago police and witnesses.

Beginning around 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, there were reports of teens lighting fireworks and throwing objects at police officers, restaurant patrons, and others in the Loop.

At 9:15 p.m., police heard shots fired near State & Madison. They found 18-year-old Jason King in the back seat of a car, wearing a heavy winter coat on a warm night, with a loaded handgun, according to prosecutors. He was charged with one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. At a bond hearing on Sunday, Circuit Judge Arthur Willis released King, who had no criminal convictions, on his own recognizance.

(Left) Chicago police on Grand Avenue, just east of State Street in River North, keep eyes on a group of teens near an entrance to the CTA Red Line.

A 34-year-old man was arrested after allegedly interfering with a police officer who was responding to the large groups on Sunday night. When the officer entered a 7-Eleven at 58 East Lake Street to advise the clerk to clear several rambunctious teens from his store and lock the doors, Donnell Taylor allegedly approached the officer and told him to leave the teens alone. He then balled up his hand, cocked his arm, and threatened the officer, according to prosecutors. Taylor was charged with misdemeanor assault.

Associate Judge Charles Beach II ordered Taylor held in custody in lieu of $15,000 bond for three prior violations of bond conditions plus $5,000 on the new charge.

The juveniles were arrested for relatively minor infractions such as battery.