CHICAGO, Ill. — Some drag racers in the Windy City rang in Independence Day by doing donuts at an intersection in the Loop and attacking responding Chicago police officers with fireworks.
The incident began shortly after 3:00 A.M. Central Time, with dozens of cars jamming an intersection while a few took turns doing donuts. When police rolled up in squad SUVs, those not driving began to shoot fireworks at the police vehicles. Despite the police beginning to back up, the crowd ran up to one vehicle and physically hit and kicked the front.
One person in video of the incident can be seen throwing a firework, which lands on the hood of an occupied police vehicle and explodes. The damage the vehicle sustained included: broken headlights, a shattered windshield, and damage to the hood.
BREAKING: Crowd of people in the Loop attack Chicago police after some civilian cars do donuts in an intersection. Crowd shoots fireworks and physical hit CPD vehicles. pic.twitter.com/cDTqExvgLz
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) July 4, 2022
Towards the end of the video, you can see a firework land on the hood of a CPD vehicle. The vehicle sustained damage, including: broken headlights, windshield shattered, and damage to the hood. Officers were inside the vehicle. pic.twitter.com/AFvpI39wyD
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) July 4, 2022
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Just as quickly as they appeared, the crowd of drag racers then drove off. When police officers got out of their vehicles to look over the scene, one higher-ranking officer began to vent about how no arrests were being made and officers were just watching what was happening. He said the next time someone throws a firework at police, arrests need to happen. Another higher-ranking officer later noted the department needed a better plan and items like riot shields to address such incidents.
A similar scene played out in the Portage Park neighborhood early Sunday morning, with a crowd attacking responding Chicago officers.
Actions like this were unthinkable just a few years ago…there is no plan or end in sight for the madness. pic.twitter.com/Ch67SAFvGo
— ChicagoFails (@ChicagoFails) July 3, 2022
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