A Chicago police officer fired a shot at a vehicle that drove toward him during a stunt driving “sideshow” in Grant Park overnight, according to a law enforcement source. The driver sped away from the scene, but police took four people into custody after stopping a similar-looking vehicle that appeared to have a bullet hole in the hood near Sox Park about 15 minutes later, the source said.
At 3:01 a.m., officers in the Central (1st) District, which patrols the Loop, were notified that officers in another part of the city had spotted a black Chrysler 300 with four occupants, two of whom were seen carrying large firearms, participating in a street takeover, according to police radio transmissions. The takeover had moved to the 700 block of South Columbus Drive, and units from the downtown area were sent to break it up.
An officer monitoring downtown surveillance cameras spotted the takeover and reported that participants had also opened a fire hydrant. Arriving officers reported that participants shot fireworks at them and said they saw the Chrysler 300 doing donuts in the intersection of Columbus and Balbo, according to radio transmissions.
Police placed multiple “stop sticks” under vehicle tires to keep drivers from fleeing while officers issued citations.
Shortly after arriving, an officer reported firing at least one shot toward a black Chrysler 300 with tinted windows that he said tried to strike him at the scene. No injuries were immediately reported, but an ambulance was brought to the scene in Grant Park to check on the officer.
At about 3:17 a.m., officers stopped a Chrysler 300 near Sox Park with tinted windows and decals similar to those reported at the street takeover. An officer who stopped the vehicle said it appeared to have a bullet defect in the hood. Four people were detained.
Back in Grant Park, officers reported that several vehicles had been abandoned in the area and along Lake Shore Drive with flat tires, apparently after sideshow drivers rode over CPD stop sticks.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, known as COPA, said it was sending a team to the Grant Park scene to investigate the officer’s use of force. Under CPD policy, any officer involved in a shooting is assigned to administrative duties for at least 30 days.
CPD released the following statement at 10 a.m.:
Preliminary* Chicago Police Department officers responded to a call of a large gathering at the above location. Officers arrived on scene and deployed a tire deflation device. A black sedan, in a group of vehicles traveling at a high a rate of speed, then traveled around the device towards an officer. The officer discharged their firearm, striking the vehicle. No one inside the vehicle was struck. The officer sustained an ankle injury, and was treated and released from the hospital. The driver of the vehicle was subsequently placed into custody. No other injuries were reported and no one was struck by gunfire. The Investigative Response Team is investigating.
Currently, the specifics of this incident, including the comprehensive use of force investigation, are being investigated by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability with the full cooperation of the Chicago Police Department.
The officer(s) involved will be placed on routine administrative duties for a minimum period of 30 days. This matter remains under investigation and all further inquiries can be directed to the Civilian Office of Police Accountability at (312) 746-3609.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 10:39 a.m. to include the CPD statement.
Original reporting you’ll see nowhere else, paid for by our readers. Click here to support our work.
