CHICAGO — Things got serious at the Laugh Factory when, according to a Chicago police report, an Uptown man battered the comedian and staff members who tried to eject him from the club.
Rich, February 44, “got into a verbal altercation with the acting comedian” at the club, 3175 North Broadway, during a November 6 performance, the report said. The situation escalated when February “shoved the unknown comedian,” prompting one of the club’s security guards to intervene, according to the report.
Police said the 43-year-old guard told February he was no longer welcome in the club, but February responded by striking the guard in the face “multiple times,” police said. Two additional Laugh Factory workers were also battered, according to the allegations.
Once they reached the exit, February slammed the door, breaking the inner glass, and fled, the police report said. He allegedly returned to the club in his Hummer around 10 p.m. and spray-painted the front door.
February was still at the scene when Chicago police arrived. The report said they arrested him after the security guard pointed him out, and all of the victims identified him. He was released from the Town Hall District station about five hours later.
He’s charged with three counts of battery, criminal damage to property, criminal defacement, and criminal trespassing, all of which are misdemeanors.
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