PHOTO & VIDEO DOCUMENTATION OF
CHICAGO POLICE & EMERGENCY VEHICLE
RESPONSE TO ONGOING NIGHTCLUB PROBLEMS
The following photos are random, and do NOT document ALL incidents
requiring supervision or response by the CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT
WARNING! The following video clips contain offensive language and depict actual violence.
· Most video clips have been shortened to accommodate this web format, but remain chronological.
· All views are of Lake Street looking south, with Halsted on the left & Green St on the right.
· ALL video sound files (including any background music) were recorded with the images,
AS ACTUALLY HEARD ON THE STREET. The sound has NOT been enhanced, supplemented or amplified.
NOTE:
Every once in a while, one of our embedded YouTube videos GETS ALL CRAZY
and either DISAPPEARS or MORPHS INTO ANOTHER VIDEO. Don't get all CRANKY PANTS on us!
Since they're linked to YouTube.com, WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THIS.
Just take a deep breath, think happy thoughts and refresh your browser, come back later or
view the video directly at
YouTube.com (And lay off that caffeine!)
The Lake Street nightclubs close at 2:00 AM, Mon thru Sat, and 3:00 AM, Sunday morning.
Other clubs in the vicinity have a Late Night Licence, closing at 4:00 AM, Mon thru Sat, and 5:00 AM, Sun morning.
~BLUE CIRCLES on photos denote POLICE and EMERGENCY VEHICLES~
11/26/05 - THE LAKE STREET LOCKDOWN
POLICE COMMANDER SUPERVISES FIRST LOCKDOWN: Escalating fights by Lake & Halsted area nightclub patrons
has compelled the Chicago Police Department to resort to more extreme tactics to discourage potential violence.
12th District Police Commander, Ronald Sodini, is present from Saturday night into Sunday morning to implement and
supervise a new plan of action. The Commander (pictured in light-colored jacket & pants) directs CHROMIUM'S and
REUNION'S security staff to unload Police barricades and set them up in front of the nightclubs to manage the crowds.
The 900 block of West Lake Street is blocked off at Halsted & Green with Police Squad cars stationed at each end of
the block. A long line of people, waiting to enter CLUB REUNION, are asked to leave once REUNION is filled to capacity.
Commander Sodini confers with additional Police stationed along the street and speaks directly with CHROMIUM'S and
REUNION'S security staff about controlling the crowds. All vehicle traffic is suspended, and club patrons are required
to pick up their valeted cars at the corner of Lake & Green Streets when they leave the clubs. Unlike the previous
weekend, there are no incidents while the nightclubs are open and the Police are present.
11/27/05 - FEMALE GROUP STREET FIGHT-REUNION NIGHTCLUB
What initially began as a domestic disturbance among REUNION patrons earlier this night, escalates into
a mostly female brawl 20 minutes later at the SW corner of Lake & Halsted.
Barely a minute after the Police remove the barricades and the last Squad car leaves the street, several
women engage in hand-to-hand combat. The first Chicago Police car arrives almost immediately. It appears
REUNION'S security intervenes and is assisted by CHROMIUM'S security. Several additional Police Squad
cars arrive to assist.
NOTE: Sound is muffled on the first half of the Video Clip since it was filmed through a closed window
BOTH REUNION & CHROMIUM Nightclubs throw their problems patrons out in the street for the neighborhood,
and inevitably the Chicago Police, to contend with. Consequently there's no record of fighting INSIDE the Clubs,
which might impact their Liquor Licenses.
When nightclub patrons are not calmed before they're evicted it results in a potentially EXPLOSIVE situation.
11/19-20/05 - Saturday PM to Sunday AM
FIGHTING AND ARRESTS AT BOTH CLUBS
VIDEO 1:
More than TWO DOZEN Police & Emergency vehicles respond within an hour. Several patrons are evicted from
REUNION, a scuffle ensues and punches are thrown. Altercations continue as fighting escalates and moves left
(east) off-camera, then back and forth along Lake Street, creating a traffic jam.
Meanwhile, a car pulls up in front of REUNION with 3 men, intent on joining the brawl. One man is
waving a club as he exits the passenger seat. As a Chicago Police Officer approaches the car, the men back
down and leave (temporarily). The Officer's presence averted what may have been a more violent situation.
Several people are yelling threats, and a man to the left of the camera repeats, "I'm gonna' cut you up!" The
car with 3 men pulls by again, but leaves when more Police arrive. Moments later sirens can be heard as several
Police vehicles arrive to control the next fight.
VIDEO 2:
While Chicago Police are concentrating on the REUNION fights at the east end of the block, a brawl begins on
the west end of the block at Green Street. Moments later several Chicago Police vehicles arrive from every
direction. Officers at Halsted, who were settling the original REUNION fight, run west to the next brawl.
VIDEO 3:
CLUB REUNION patrons are vacated early and some are reluctant to leave the street. A squad car makes repeated
announcements until most patrons leave the area.
VIDEO 4:
In spite of increased Chicago Police presence, throughout the night, CHROMIUM patrons are still determined to fight. Fighting originates
inside the club and spills into the street. A man is lead away in handcuffs (on the right). Several other
fist fights follow and a member of Chromium's "security" staff assaults a Chicago Police Officer before he's
subdued and arrested.
This video clip documents CHROMIUM patrons involved in THREE altercations in the early hours of Saturday,
11/12 as they leave FRIDAY night's "Frankie J. Live Concert". Recorded were two scuffles at the CHROMIUM
valet parking area across the street, the second requiring intervention by a Chicago Police Tac car and
Police Squad car. A second Police Squad car arrives and both monitor the closing crowd to prevent further
fighting. Later, in a third altercation, someone in a car confronts CHROMIUM'S security, then clashes with
a Chicago Police Officer. The culprit was arrested and led away in handcuffs... an unforgettable night.
NOTE: 3 days later, at the 11/15/05 City Hall meeting convened to discuss neighborhood concerns with CHROMIUM, Tony Perez (CHROMIUM'S manager) gave us the impression that most of the attendees this FRIDAY night were "girls". None of the aggressors in these 3 incidents appear to be female...an innocent oversight, we surmise.
QUESTION: HOW MANY CHROMIUM SECURITY GUARDS DOES IT TAKE
TO DISCUSS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION WITH ONE PATRON? ANSWER: FIFTEEN!
See the BLOOD PHOTOS linked below
10/30/05-HOW MANY CHROMIUM SECURITY GUARDS DOES IT TAKE...
A HOPEFUL SOLUTION HAS BECOME ANOTHER PROBLEM!!!
As documented by earlier videos, it was only three months ago that CHROMIUM'S "security" passively watched
as routine gang fights proliferated, particularly at the club's closing time. Apprised they are being scrutinized,
CHROMIUM has increased their "security" staff and has begun to intercede when there is fighting among CHROMIUM
patrons. Unfortunately, it appears that CHROMIUM'S "security" now operates with the misguided notion that their
expanded job description and additional personnel permits them to act autonomously, outside the law.
Sunday, 3:25 (AM AFTER time change):
On this night several Chicago Police Squad and Tac cars have closed
off the 800 block of Lake and are stationed along the street to assist with chronic CHROMIUM closing problems.
CHROMIUM stops filming their own videotape and the last squad car leaves the area at 3:17 AM.
Eight minutes later, FIFTEEN of CHROMIUM'S "security" & employees exit the building and surround a CHROMIUM
patron with whom they have a prior disagreement. Aware of the presence and fixed range of the surveillance
camera recording this video, some of CHROMIUM'S employees casually disband. Others escort the CHROMIUM patron
off-camera to the north side of Lake on Green Street.
One by one, the remaining CHROMIUM "security" employees rejoin their counterparts off-camera on the north
side of the street while another stands watch on the south side of the Lake Street. CHROMIUM turns off all
external lights and several minutes later CHROMIUM'S employees walk back to CHROMIUM... WITHOUT the escorted
patron. This complete surveillance tape ends at 4:36 AM as CHROMIUM employees are still exiting and reentering
the building.
Early Sunday morning fighting among CHROMIUM patrons continues when the club closes. CHROMIUM security
reacts quickly to a fight in the adjacent parking lot as Chicago Police Tactical Officers stationed outside
CHROMIUM call for additional Police backup.
10/2/05 - CHROMIUM NIGHTCLUB STREET FIGHT
To discourage early morning fighting, Chicago Police Tactical Officers are stationed outside CHROMIUM,
Lake Street is closed off for two blocks and extra CHROMIUM security people are posted outside the club.
In spite of all the precautions, CHROMIUM patrons are determined to fight.
A group fight breaks out in the parking lot to the west and continues into the street. CHROMIUM security
has recently begun to intercede, yet once they break up the fight it resumes again in the parking lot.
Crowds gather to watch as additional Police units respond and street traffic temporarily comes to a halt.
9/18/05 - 3 CHROMIUM NIGHTCLUB FIGHTS WITH ARRESTS
THREE Chicago Police Tactical Officers are stationed outside CHROMIUM to discourage fighting after closing,
so CHROMIUM patrons take the fighting across the street. One fight breaks out north of Lake around the
corner on Green and a second fight breaks out at the corner of Lake and Green. While the Officers are
subduing the first two fights, a third and larger fight starts across from CHROMIUM by the valet parking
and continues north into the parking lot.
See the 3 PHOTOS below
These are three concurrent still photos taken from a surveillance video
depicting Police response to THREE successive fights among CHROMIUM patrons
after the 3:00 AM closing.
9/17/05 - AFTERMATH OF FULL MOON FIGHTING
Police & Emergency vehicles are called to the scene after a disturbance among REUNION patrons.
Some of the Police Tactical Unit cars have already left the scene in this video.
Fighting among nightclub patrons has ceased when the Chicago Police are walking the streets, but as soon as
they leave... REUNION patrons join the Weekend Fight Club when a fight breaks out between aprox. 10 male &
females in front of 808 W Lake. Fighting escalates when a car pulls into the 808 Lake driveway and the group
expands to more than 20.
Since the fighting occurs on the sidewalk just below the "real time" surveillance camera, you can only HEAR
the fight in the movie clip and see the Chicago Police Tac car in the street (end of clip). Intermittent
PHOTOS of the ACTUAL FIGHTING were taken by additional stationary surveillance cameras and interspersed
in the appropriate time frame.
8/26/05 - CHROMIUM GIRLS & GUYS FIGHTING
CHROMIUM'S Thursday night "Invitation Only" Miller Beer-sponsored concert drew a smaller crowd and the
Chicago Police were stationed in a patrol car directly across the street. The CHROMIUM patrons still
managed to start a small fight at closing which included girls.
8/21/05 - CHROMIUM NIGHTCLUB GANG STREET FIGHT
After closing, a group fight breaks out among CHROMIUM patrons in the street in front of the building
and expands to the lot on the west. Chicago Police respond immediately on foot and several Police
vehicles follow. Arrests are made and Lake Street traffic is diverted around the area.
See the THREE PHOTOS below
After closing, ANOTHER fight breaks out with CHROMIUM patrons in the street directly in front of CHROMIUM.
The fighting moves to the parking lot, west of CHROMIUM.
8/7/05 - CHROMIUM NIGHTCLUB GANG FIGHT
After closing, a group fight breaks out on the sidewalk in front of CHROMIUM among its patrons and
expands to the adjacent lot. Lake street is block as spectators gather to watch. Several Police vehicles
respond and Lake Street traffic is diverted around the area.
See the FOUR PHOTOS below
A HUGE fight breaks out with CHROMIUM patrons after closing in the parking lot next door (the SE corner of Lake & Green).
7/31/05 - GANG FIGHT WITH BROKEN BOTTLE
Patrons double and triple park in front of CHROMIUM after closing to "socialize", unconcerned about creating
a traffic jam for several blocks. Rival groups of young men have gathered off-camera to the east and break
glass bottles as others run to join in for a street fight that blocks traffic.
7/24/05 - GANG STREET FIGHT-CHICAGO nightclub
A group fight breaks out after closing at CHROMIUM'S east exit door. One guy is beaten against a
car by a group of men and another is beaten and kicked on the sidewalk by a second group. CHROMIUM
security watches the fight then closes the door and goes inside.
The second guy is kicked repeatedly while a woman screams and CHROMIUM security watches from the
door's window. One of the victims tries to escape and runs into the street where he is beat again.
The second victim runs into the street and is beaten against a car that is stopped in traffic. When
Police Officers arrive they approach REUNION, since this was the club given in the 911 call.
A man is led away in handcuffs.
A fight breaks out with CHROMIUM patrons after closing on the NW corner of Lake and Green Streets.
A fight breaks out in the street with two groups of CHROMIUM patrons after closing.
The fighters run away as a Chicago Police squad car arrives.
