CHICAGO (EmergencyNet News) - In a story that has apparently been downplayed in much of the local media, at least 21 people were arrested and at least three police officers were injured after a disturbance broke out in and around a long stretch of forest preserve on Chicago's border with several suburbs on Sunday. Thousands of people reportedly became unruly when police shut down what was described as an overcrowded weekend picnic.

A Melrose Park police officer was struck in the forehead with a bottle and two Chicago police officers were also reported injured and taken to Resurrection Medical Center during the confrontations. Several people were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, possession of handguns and drug offenses.

Landau Productions, the organizer of the picnic, reportedly had a permit for 2,000 people. But, a spokesman for the Cook County Forest Preserve District said between 10,000 and 15,000 people showed for the event billed as "Freak-Nik" -- allegedly patterned after a celebration held by black college students in Atlanta, GA each spring.

According to police, they shut down the event because of the size of the huge crowd and complaints from neighborhood residents. Contrary to what was reported in the Chicago news media, police officers from all over metropolitan Chicago were involved in controlling the disturbances that did break out. At least fifteen police agencies were reportedly involved in various disturbance-related responses.

There were at least two separate areas of major trouble. The original problem spot was in Schiller Woods located on Chicago's far Northwest Side. The Chicago Police Department had to call for its highest level Immediate Emergency Plan 5, which brought more than 150 officers to the scene. An Illinois State Police helicopter, "Air One," was also called to provide surveillance capabilities and help coordinate activities on the ground.

The second troubled area was south of Schiller Woods in Melrose Park near the intersection of First Avenue and North Avenue. At this location, cars were overturned in a McDonald's restaurant by a crowd of 400 people on a rampage. Police were heard calling for immediate assistance as one officer described the authorities being "surrounded" by a hostile crowd. One officer was struck by a bottle at this location and the fire department was called out to use fire hoses on the mob. It is not known if water was actually used to quell the crowd.

One man was shot and wounded in the arm in a Forest Preserve and a woman was allegedly sexually assaulted at a Melrose Park location. The shooting victim was reported to be in good condition Monday at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital. Although minor skirmishes were reported in several suburbs, there was no widespread looting or other damage reported. A police officer, however, and speaking on condition of anonymity, told EmergencyNet News that were it not for a rapid and massive police presence, that he believed that things were on the verge of getting "completely out of control."

(c) Copyright, EmergencyNet NEWS Service, 1998. All Rights Reserved. Redistribution without permission is prohibited by law.

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