Police are under orders to arrest anyone on the Mag Mile engaging in criminal behavior after a large group of teens wreaked havoc in the area over the weekend, an alderman said. NBC 5’s Trina Orlando has the latest details.
Dramatic cell phone video showed a security guard being assaulted by two people outside a downtown Chicago McDonald's over the weekend.
The incident happened Saturday at a McDonald’s located at Chicago Avenue and State Street in the city's River North neighborhood. Video shows two men slamming a guard into a wall outside the restaurant while appearing to shove and strike him.
Chicago police said the guard was escorting the pair out of the restaurant when "both offenders began to batter the victim with closed fists repeatedly." At one point, police say one of the men grabbed a glass bottle from a garbage can and smashed it over the guard's head, injuring him.
The off-duty suburban police officer used mace and was able to break free before pulling out a gun on his attackers who ultimately fled, the video shows. Police said the pair entered a nearby establishment and proceeded to "taunt" him from there.
The men were gone by the time police arrived at the scene and the guard was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for treatment.
"We are disturbed by this situation," the fast-food restaurant said in a statement. "We will continue to take appropriate measures to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for our customers."
There was a show of force by police outside the McDonald's on Monday.
The assault was one of several mob like incidents reported across the Mag Mile and River North on Saturday.
Police are under orders to arrest anyone on the Mag Mile engaging in criminal behavior after a large group of teens wreaked havoc in the area over the weekend, Ald. Brian Hopkins, whose ward covers part of the Mag Mile, confirmed to NBC 5.
"There were several hours where it was just mayhem down here," Hopkins said.
The 2nd Ward alderman said the incidents included people being punched and pushed to the ground. Police arrested 21 people— including 20 juveniles. It was not immediately clear if any of those arrested were involved in the McDonald's incident.
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"This is a serious problem we have to stop it, we have a limited number of tools in our toolbox," Hopkins said. "Arrest is one of the things we can do, so we’re doing it."
In another incident, teens swarmed a yogurt shop, made a mess and tried to leave without paying.
"This is supposed to be best neighborhood in Chicago," resident Sallie Kraus said. "(It) doesn’t bode well for the summer season."
Water Tower Place instituted a policy a while back that teenagers must be accompanied by an adult after 4 p.m on Fridays and Saturdays. That policy is working, officials say, and now officials are focusing their attention on the street.
