A driver plowed into a crowd of people on the Near West Side early Sunday, injuring at least four Chicago Police officers and at least one bystander, according to witnesses and preliminary information gathered at the scene. At least 14 people were arrested during the incident, including the driver and two of his passengers. So far, CPD has not issued any statements about what happened.
Police had been in the area of Washburne and Throop since Saturday night, managing a large teen block party. Justin Peters, head of Chitown Crime Chasers, estimated 500 people were involved.
By around midnight, police supervisors began towing vehicles to clear streets and stop more people from arriving by car. But the crowd continued to grow and become increasingly unruly. CPD brought in teams from districts across the city to carry out the effort, but the sheer size of the crowd, which at times broke into fights and pepper spray battles, made it difficult for some officers to get close to the scene.
At one point, a police supervisor warned officers over the radio to use caution because drivers in the area were operating recklessly and traveling in multiple directions through crowded streets. As the situation intensified, a deputy chief assumed command and organized skirmish lines of officers to divide the crowd and push groups of teens in opposite directions…