A Chicago police officer was seen on video pointing his gun at protesters, sparking an internal investigation by the police department. WGN-TV reported.
The video, taken early Monday morning, shows Occupy Street protesters drifting around the intersection of West 59th Street and South Pulaski Road in the city’s southwestern West Lawn neighborhood, according to the station.
Police told WGN that no arrests were made in connection with Monday morning’s street occupation.
The video then shows a Chicago Police transport truck driving through the intersection with an officer pointing his gun out the passenger side window, WGN reported, adding that the street protesters fought back by hurling insults and slurs at the officers.
This footage, showing street occupancy and police pointing their guns, can be seen in a WGN video report. here.
The Office of Police Accountability confirmed to WGN that the department is also investigating the incident after being notified by the Chicago Police Department’s Bureau of Internal Investigations.
Further information from the station:
City leaders passed an ordinance in July 2022 that imposes tougher fines for drifting events and drag racing like the one that happened Monday morning on the West Lawn. The ordinance allows police to use photo and video evidence and license plate readers to track and seize any vehicles involved. It also imposes a $5,000 fine.
Despite city leaders passing the ordinance, drifting events like the one that happened on the West Lawn on Monday still occur around the city.
Police told WGN that no arrests were made in connection with Monday morning’s street occupation.
How do observers respond?
As you might expect, many of the crime-weary commenters on WGN’s Facebook page expressed their anger not at the officers holding their guns, but at the lawless crowds. Here are some of them:
- One commenter said: “Leave her alone!!” said“She is protecting herself and her partner! Hunt down the real culprit!”
- “Should have started double tapping,” said another. said“The crowd would have dispersed quickly.”
- “Did I miss something?” another user said. I wondered.“I don’t care if a bunch of thugs take over the city, but the cops can’t show their guns? Holy crap. This is why Chicago is only getting worse. I grew up there and I don’t care to see that city again.”
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