Mar 11, 2008 8:50 am US/Central
30 Arrested At South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade
Police: Man Calls 911 To Report Shooter That's Not There; Woman Pees On Items In Drugstore
CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
Chicago Police say reveling was more in control during and after this year's South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade, but police did make 30 arrests Sunday including two for felonies.
Kenneth Peters, 22, of the 6000 block of South Richmond Street, was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal damage to state property Sunday, police said. As parade revelers continued to mill about Western Avenue after the parade, Peters called 911 four times and falsely reported that a gunman was shooting outside a bar about 4:50 p.m. at 103rd Street and Western Avenue, Chicago Police said.
Peters made the calls because he was mad the bar's staff refused to watch some bags he left outside and the bags were moved, police said. After his arrest, Peters was taken to the Morgan Park Police District, 1900 W. Monterey Ave., Chicago, where he kicked a divider and damaged a toilet, police said. Judge Donald Panarese set bond at $30,000. He is expected in court March 17.
Chicago police Sgt. Mike Casey said felony charges in connection with the parade are unusual. Most of the charges are misdemeanors for drinking and public urination, he said.
Samantha Smith, 19, and Matthew Sinkowski, 18, both of Tinley Park, were charged with criminal trespass to land after Smith urinated on "specific products" in an aisle of a CVS store, 11055 S. Western Ave., police said.
"If you looked at her, you'd never think [she would do something like that]," a Morgan Park District police officer said.
Police said the store manager would not have pressed charges if Smith had agreed to clean up the mess but she declined. The two were told to leave and refused, police said.
Two more people who decided they couldn't wait to relieve themselves were George Tsirtis , 28, of Muncie, Ind. and Steve Lehmann, 29, of Griffith, Ind. The two of them arrived on a school bus bound for the parade about 10 a.m. Sunday and urinated in the parking lot across from the Morgan Park Police District, 1901 W. Monterey Ave., Chicago, police said.
A desk sergeant who was going about his duties looked out the window and saw the two men urinating, police said.
"We have beautiful public restrooms available for anyone," Casey said as a warning to guests attending next year's parade.
Three people who crashed a party at 103rd Street and Hoyne Avenue were charged with battery after they beat up the 45-year-old homeowner and a 44 year-old guest. Both the homeowner and guest suffered facial bruising, police said. Darla Pitts, 32, 11201 S. Albany Ave., Chicago, Ashley Gay, 21, 7121 W. 166th St., Tinley Park, and Justin Juliano, 21, 17625 S. Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park, each were charged with battery. Juliano also was charged with criminal trespass to land, police said.
Another 42 people received summons for drinking, public urination or both, Casey said.
Police were "not tolerating the nonsense," he said, indicating police will be equally tough in the future. "This is the way it's going to be from now on," he said.
Parade committee spokeswoman Mary Beth Sheehan said organizers were pleased with the police response.
"They did a really good job of dismantling the parade really quickly and efficiently and forcing people to abide by the law," Sheehan said.
Bagpipes Go Missing After Parade
The luck of the Irish apparently was not with a St. Charles bagpiper after the parade, police said.
Shortly after marching down Western Avenue, the piper stopped at the Beverly Woods Restaurant, 11532 S. Western Ave., police said.
He placed his pipes in the restaurant's coatroom about 2:30 p.m. and when he returned for them about 3 p.m. they were gone. The pipes were estimated at $1,200, police said.
Police did not say what band the piper was in.
Parade organizers said eight pipe bands were scheduled to perform in the parade.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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