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(Above) Google Street View of intersection of Randolph & State Streets in the Loop.

Police ordered CTA trains in the Loop to run southbound only, arguably to keep rowdy crowds out of River North and Streeterville.

By CWB Chicago

11-Jul-20 – There were no official Fourth of July fireworks to draw people downtown this year but that did not stop people from coming. Police arrested at least nine people – and likely many more – as partiers celebrated in the Loop on July 4-5.

Police supervisors reported “very dense” and “dangerous” crowds throwing large fireworks near Millennium Park at around 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 4. The 1st District police commander told officers to put on any type of eyeglasses or sunglasses to minimize the chance of being blinded by flying pyrotechnics.

The situation continued to escalate and people in the crowd began throwing fireworks and bottles directly at police officers, prompting at least two arrests.

By 9:15 p.m., a police supervisor estimated that 1,000 people were running into traffic around Millennium Park. The police department redeployed its saturation teams and many detectives to backup officers in the Loop, according to a CPD source.

Walgreens looted, window at Macy’s broken

The Walgreens at State & Randolph was overrun by a large group of partiers who fought in the aisles and stole merchandise, according to an employee. Another person reportedly used a shovel to break a display window at Macy’s on State Street.

Shortly before 10:00 p.m., police ordered CTA trains to run only southbound from the Loop. Anyone who wanted to go north had to hike to the Clark/Division station. The maneuver may have been an attempt to keep the rowdy crowd from spreading into the River North and Magnificent Mile neighborhoods.

The tactic was only partly successful. At around 11:00 p.m., officers on patrol in Streeterville reported that a group of 15 juveniles threw fireworks and a knife at their patrol car. Police did not pursue the group and no arrests were made in connection with the incident.

Police seized at least one gun during the Loop street party. That happened near State & Jackson shortly after midnight on Sunday, July 5, and resulted in an arrest. Other arrests were made for jumping on and damaging police vehicles, as well as battery.