Ten people were arrested as police defused what they termed a ”near riot” at a West Chicago carnival late Sunday.
After officers stationed at the Railroad Days Festival attempted to make an arrest at the carnival about 10:15 p.m., people in a crowd of 500 began to throw bottles and other objects, prompting the officers to request help, officials said.
Police departments from several Du Page County communities and Illinois State Police troopers converged on the site in the 500 block of Main Street, said West Chicago Police Chief Gerald Mourning. Officers from Aurora, St. Charles, Bartlett, Batavia, Winfield, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn and Naperville were among those responding, he said.
”We were able to stabilize the situation quickly,” Mourning said.
He said gang activity may have been the catalyst for the incident.
”It appears there was a large number of youths with gang affiliation,”
Mourning said, adding that the carnival has operated at the location since Thursday without incident.
The people arrested face charges of mob action, battery and resisting arrest, said Sgt. George Jacksi of the Du Page County Sheriff`s Department.
No injuries were reported in the incident.
”We`ve been to Humboldt Park (in Chicago) and the Far South Side, and this is the darndest thing I`ve ever seen,” said Allan Litts, manager of the carnival. ”This thing could have blown up to be worse than it really was.”
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