A downtown alderman expressed a sense of vindication as a teen trend descended into chaos on Wednesday night, leading police to enforce the city’s long-standing 10 p.m. curfew.
For over two hours, approximately 400 individuals, predominantly teenagers, converged on street corners in the Loop. During this time, 911 calls flooded in, reporting brawls, shoplifting mobs, and other disturbances associated with the social media-driven phenomenon known as “teen trends,” which city officials often refer to as “large groups.”
At least three people were hospitalized due to injuries sustained during the downtown street incidents. Chicago police reported that eight juveniles were arrested, and 24 were issued curfew citations.
Chicago Police Department (CPD) units were stationed downtown and at Promontory Point in preparation for the trend, coinciding with Chicago Public Schools’ spring break. The downtown event was the only one to gain significant momentum.
Starting around 7:30 p.m., large groups of young people were seen near the Wrigley Building intersection. The crowd moved across the river, and the situation rapidly escalated.
By 8:15 p.m., a migrant vendor selling fresh fruit near Millennium Park reported to police that teenagers had stolen her knife, threatened her with it, and then discarded the blade into the street as they left.
Random attacks were reported throughout the downtown area. One officer witnessed a group harassing homeless individuals by toppling their cardboard shelters, while other groups were seen jumping on cars.
Around 9:30 p.m., a passerby recorded a video of a violent assault at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street. The victim was knocked unconscious and transported to a hospital by emergency medical services.
Shortly after, just a block away, officers reported a large group engaging in tasing and pepper spraying each other.
At precisely 10 p.m., police initiated the city’s curfew, issuing dispersal orders. Juveniles who failed to comply were detained and cited.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), a proponent of a “snap curfew” ordinance allowing CPD to disperse juveniles from trouble-ridden areas before the standard curfew, was present in the Loop to witness the events. He posted on X at 10:48 p.m., “I’m at State and Lake. Crowd partially dispersed by 10:40 p.m. The situation was out of control about an hour ago. But then at 10:00 p.m., an order was issued for curfew enforcement. It had an immediate impact on this violent teen trend. Curfew enforcement is effective.”
Among those arrested Wednesday night, CPD reported that seven were charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct, including a 13-year-old girl, a 14-year-old girl, a 15-year-old girl, a 15-year-old boy, a 16-year-old girl, and two 16-year-old boys. A 16-year-old boy faced three felony counts of aggravated assault of peace officers and misdemeanor reckless conduct.
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