NOTE: Following our post, two robberies, a slashing /stabbing, and the burglary of an occupied home by 3 men were reported. Details of those incidents are now up in a separate report.
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Saturday’sl Twelve Bars of Christmas (TBOX) bar crawl went relatively well according to police officers and supervisors who spoke with CWB.
Under pressure from the police department and area residents, TBOX organizers added a significant number of private security officers at their own expense.
Fire department ambulances were kept busy throughout the day and night as “sidewalk inspectors” collapsed on area streets. (TBOX did supply a couple of private ambulances, but their services were limited to drunks who dropped out on the Wrigleyville bar zone proper.)
Major events should be picking up the tab for neighborhood security and event medical services. With our police district’s manpower slashed by 25% in recent years, organizers should control and patrol their own events rather than sucking away first responders from area residents.
Are you listening, Chicago Pride Parade?
CWB estimates that 7 arrests were made in connection with TBOX yesterday, compared to 11 arrests last year.
Here’s the TBOX 2014 play-by-play, with a couple of YouTube videos from The1stmikec:
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| The Chicago Police Department’s big scary bus is seen on Halsted Street in 2013. |
7:26AM — The police department’s Big Scary Bus has arrived. We haven’t seen him in a long time. He even skipped Pride this year.
12:17PM — Winner! Outside of Stretch Bar & Grill, the first person has been cited for drinking on the public way.
12:38PM — Knock out! The first ambulance is summoned to TBOX on behalf of a “half-passed out” drunk woman in the alley behind Moe’s Cantina. Way to go, girl!
12:47PM — On the Einstein Bagels parking lot, security sees a man testing door handles. Description: Male, black, 5’10” tall, 30 years old, wearing a brown puffy coat and goggles.
12:55PM — Bingo! The first arrest of TBOX 2014 takes place at Clark and Cornelia.
1:24PM — Private ambulance summoned for a “highly intoxicated individual” at Clark and Cornelia.
1:26PM — A woman wearing a Santa hat, red sweater, and jeans is urinating under the L tracks at Sheffield and Roscoe “right next to the porta-potties.” In the spirit of the holidays, a man is urinating next to her.
1:39PM — “A man’s down and he keeps passing out” at Belmont and Seminary.
1:41PM — Two white guys “wearing sweaters and costumes” are fist fighting inside Einstein Bagels.
1:43PM — Fire Department reports that the man down at Belmont and Seminary is now lying in traffic. He’s wearing a “bright red, fancy Santa suit.”
1:48PM — Another Santa is reported down in the 3300 block of Seminary. Police give him a ride to Clybourn and Fullerton.
2:32PM — More tickets for drinking on the public way. Outside of Cubby Bear this time.
2:33PM — Elmhurst police are calling. They say a 22-year-old woman is TBOX-ing at Sluggers and she just texted her boyfriend to say she’s feeling suicidal. That’s a natural reaction, honey.
2:33PM — Two more arrests—3519 Clark.
2:33PM — “When the [paddy] wagon is done picking up that prisoner [at 3519 Clark], have them back up 100 yards. I have another one.”
2:44PM — Aaaaand another arrest.
3:54PM — Need an ambulance outside of Cubby Bear. There’s a man down and he’s bleeding from the head.
4:02PM — It appears that the police and fire departments have deployed an “overcrowding detail,” dedicated to citing bars that admit too many TBOXers. At least two bars have been cited already.
4:04PM — Festively-dressed man down. 3246 Wilton. Ambulanced to Illinois Masonic.
4:28PM — Another bar gets written up for overcrowding.
4:42PM — At Dark Horse bar, a drunk caller wants the police because the bouncer won’t let her back in.
4:47PM — And another overcrowded bar.
6:19PM — “Male white wearing a white bird costume has passed out on the hood of a car,” 3524 Halsted.
6:20PM — Officer confirms: “I believe an ambulance is warranted. Drunk male. Dressed as a bird. Passed out on the hood of a vehicle.” Birdman gets hospitalized.
6:27PM — Man down outside 706 Roscoe. He’s scooped up and whisked away by ambulance.
6:57PM — Too much Elfin’ fun. Private ambulance needed for a semi-conscious TBOXer at Rockwood Place.
7:38PM — Bar detains a customer for trying to steal a bottle of liquor. It’s not clear which bar is involved. The caller says it’s Casey Moran’s, but the address given is of Deuces and The Diamond Club.
7:41PM — One arrest for battery. Deuces and The Diamond Club.
9:00PM — Aaaand another arrest. Clark and Addison this time.
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| What’s Christmas without nunchucks? (The1stmikec) |
9:06PM — Hit and run outside of the 19th district police station. Black SUV is last seen heading south on Fremont.
9:28PM — We got a 45-year-old woman who can’t walk. Fremont and Waveland.
9:35PM — A resident in the 3300 block of Clark reports an unknown drunk man on her fire escape. He’s wearing a red holiday sweater.
11:07PM — At Sluggers, Megan says a tall white guy with dark hair and dark eyes has been “aggressive to the females.” He was put in a chokehold in the stairwell. She’s upset and just wants the police to know that.
2:21AM — An officer who has had it up to HERE with drunks in holiday gear: “We need ANOTHER ambulance for ANOTHER drunk female. HIGHLY intoxicated. Clark and Eddy, PLEASE.”
