It must be frustrating for officials and organizers of the annual Scoop Waukegan street fest to see all their hard work and months-long planning vanish in minutes. That’s what happened last week as two individuals spoiled the party in the city’s downtown.
Authorities announced Tuesday that a suspect in a shooting, which cut short the last day of the car show, is in custody. He is not from Lake County.
Waukegan police believe the victim and suspect, Willie White, 36, of south suburban Harvey, were attending Scoop Waukegan when they became involved in an altercation on the south side of a building at 20 S. Genesee St., next to a private parking lot. Investigators recovered a gun at the scene.
The victim, a man in his late 30s, was treated on the scene before being transported to the hospital, where he remains in stable condition, police reported. White has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and other gun-related counts.
Apparently, Harvey doesn’t have a summer fete which the suspect could have attended. He had to travel quite a ways north for his alleged gun play.
A second incident, this one on Friday evening, involved a Waukegan woman, Brittney Mack, 38, who was charged with aggravated assault among a slew of traffic violations, including driving under the influence without a driver’s license, when she tried to navigate Genesee Street during the Scoop.
The video I viewed on social media had people yelling at her, warning her that she was in the wrong area and that she was “going to jail.” In fact, she is being detained in the Lake County jail at least through next month.
Mayor Sam Cunningham issued a statement the other day lauding first responders who were on hand at the chaotic shooting incident. “Due to the heavy law enforcement presence already stationed at the festival, the scene was contained immediately by on-site first responders who secured the area, provided medical attention, and ensured the safety of festival attendees.”
I’m not sure what the city could have done more to secure the gearhead fest. There was a solid number of police on hand.
Thousands of car enthusiasts journeyed to downtown Waukegan Friday and Saturday to see classic Detroit iron and ’60s muscle cars, gaze at tricked-out vehicles, or just to be part of a city celebration on hot mid-July days. Cunningham said last weekend’s fest was the largest in the city’s history, with more than 1,500 vehicles participating.
Those who grew up in Lake County are quite familiar with scoopin’ the Loop. In the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, cruising up and down Genesee Street on Fridays and Saturdays was the place to be when gasoline was 29 cents a gallon.
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If you’re not from here, imagine the 1973 film “American Graffiti,” which was about the Southern California car scene. On steroids.
Despite the violence at this year’s Scoop Waukegan — previous iterations of the street fair were dubbed Scoop the Loop — from Cunningham’s statement, it appears the fest will return for another run next summer. “This single, isolated act does not, and will not, define Scoop Waukegan,” the mayor said.
“I refuse to allow the joy and spirit of thousands of peaceful families to be overshadowed or erased by the reckless actions of one individual,” he added. “There is no excuse and no justification for bringing violence into a space where children were playing, families were bonding, friends were reconnecting, and neighbors were celebrating together.”
Cunningham said the reckless actions of a “disruptive individual” won’t speak for the thousands who made the event, which he called “a great tradition,” a triumph of community spirit. “We stand united, we stand strong and the city’s traditions will continue to thrive,” he said.
The incident involving Brittney Mack could have been much worse as onlookers and police dodged her silver late-model Toyota Camry. Lucky no one was injured by the driver who was allegedly extremely impaired.
According to witnesses, she struck multiple vehicles in an effort to flee police. She was allegedly driving with more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in her system.
A Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy initially tried to pull Mack over, but she continued northbound on Genesee Street. She then came to street barricades and reversed her direction of travel, heading southbound on Genesee toward Lake Street.
Waukegan police dispatched squad cars after her. She was corralled within minutes at Lake Street and Sheridan Road as three squads boxed her in.
With the crowds turning out last weekend for Scoop Waukegan, it would be a shame to cancel a future car fest in the city. Canceling Scoop Waukegan sends the message that bad apples can, indeed, spoil a good thing for the community.
While thousands of Scoop attendees were law-abiding, two individuals had something else in mind instead of viewing cars and doing some people-watching.
Charles Selle is a former News-Sun reporter, political editor and editor. [email protected]. X @sellenews.