Remember when we were kids, and how much fun it was to point fireworks at police officers and firefighters and shoot them off?
What, you didn’t do that? Well, that’s just the latest incident of kids being kids here in Peoria:
A “major incident” involving a large group of people shooting fireworks at police and firefighters occurred near the Taft Homes just before 10 p.m. Sunday, about the same time the fireworks show on the riverfront was ending.
Police had to briefly shut down Adams and Eaton streets, near Taft, as they dispersed the large crowds.
No officers or firefighters were injured, dispatchers said on the radio.
At one point, police were ordered to tell those in the crowd to go into their apartments, leave or be arrested for unlawful assembly.
I’m sure it was just a party that was letting out, and this large group was on its way home, having a little fun. There was no property damage or injuries, so there’s no reason for concern. In fact, I wonder if the fireworks were really being shot at police and fire personnel at all, given that there are no interviews with neighbors who corroborate that story.
[/sarcasm]
UPDATE: Another news source in town — 1470 WMBD — is now reporting that there were injuries. “One police officer was treated for minor burns and hearing loss, while police say a fire fighter was treated for hearing loss,” according to their report. They also say that police described the event as a “riot.” I question whether these reports are true, however, since the Journal Star said there weren’t any injuries. After all, the Journal Star has editors that vet these stories before printing them to make sure they’re accurate. They wouldn’t just print something they heard on police radio without verifying it with two other sources. Right?
UPDATE 2: The Journal Star has updated their story. They are now confirming that there were injuries to police officers and firefighters. And they have some video of the incident. I was most interested in the City’s plans to deal with this situation in the future:
The fire engine never made it to the burning trash bin. [Division Chief Gary] Van Voorhis said the fire was not threatening residents or property and was allowed to burn as officers assisted the engine in turning around and exiting Taft. […] Van Voorhis added that firefighters have been targeted by fireworks before, but that the magnitude of the incident Monday was unprecedented. In response, the department will review its policy of how to respond to crowded areas with fires that don’t appear to threaten anyone’s physical well-being or nearby property.
Peoria police, too, will devise enhanced security measures for Taft Homes next year, Burgess said. Revelers there have traditionally held private firework displays on the Fourth and previously made targets of police and passersby, though not to the same extent as Monday.
If I were on the City Council, I would also want to know why this “tradition” of illegal fireworks displays on PHA property and targeting of police and passersby has not been addressed before it escalated to this level. I would also want to know what effect recent cuts to police staffing levels have had in the police department’s ability to respond to this riot.
The news report didn’t say anything about kids.
WMBD interviewed Roy Goodwin about the “crowd” and whereas Paul said there were 70, Roy says there were 200 blocking streets and going into people’s yards. If that isn’t mob action, I don’t know what is.
http://centralillinoisproud.com/search-fulltext?nxd_id=184137
Did I miss something, good point. I think CJ may have been being a tad facetious.
“Did I miss something?” — The blog post is tongue-in-cheek, hence the sarcasm tag at the end. And the article doesn’t say it wasn’t kids.
According to WMBD, a police officer and a firemen were injured–and then police used mace to disperse the mob.
What the PJS has so far about the Taft fireworks is already outdated. I heard on WMBD radio that a dumpster had caught fire in Taft, and that police & fire were trying to respond to it, but were blocked
by residents, who then turned and shot fireworks toward them. I doubt it was just youth, probably adults as well.
http://www.1470wmbd.com/Taft-Homes-crowd-shoots-fireworks-at-firefighters-/10277951
I will always defend the low-income population because of many false perceptions about them.
But I will not and cannot defend THIS type of incident and behavior.
1) The police/fire were trying to put out a FIRE, folks, and YOU turned on them, causing injury? What if one of your children or a loved one needed medical attention? What if YOUR apartment had caught on fire because YOU decided to have your own fireworks show? The Riverfront Fireworks was a great show, that wasn’t enough to enjoy?
2) Those kind of fireworks are not cheap, so even if many of you are working good, decent jobs, paying bills, and getting by, HOW or WHY would you spend that kind of money on ILLEGAL fireworks? Or did someone who doesn’t live in Taft buy them for you? (Yes, I know everyone does it, my neighborhood in Marquette Heights was booming until Midnight last night).
3) Priorities and choices, folks, make good decisions that will get you out of poverty, not keep you in it. As someone wise said to me a few years ago, “The Opportunities are out there, you just have to go after them”. Thank you.
Sharon, that can’t be true. The Journal Star has editors who vet these stories and check with multiple sources before they print anything. They wouldn’t print something they heard on the police radio without verifying with a couple other sources. [/sarcasm]
I love the sarcasm…seriously.
Dennis – I saw these fireworks from Madison Street. These were NOT cheap! Some of them were almost as big as what the city had and they went on pretty steadily for 20/25 minutes. Somebody spent thousands of dollars on these but they are living in low-income housing??? And yes I know it was thousands because I have purchase some “good” ones in the past and have a pretty idea what they cost and mine were never that good!
There were multiple police cars on Adams in the Taft as we were walking home after the city’s fireworks got out. Yes,this is an eyewitness account!
I saw the same thing as Leslie while driving home…a LARGE consistent firework show behind Taft homes around 10:30 last night. I’m confused though, the PJS article says Sunday, not Monday. Could it be they got their days wrong???
C.J., I agree. I thought that WMBD got most of its news from the PJS–but apparently that isn’t the case as WMBD’s reports are more thorough.
As I posted earlie under a different article, I was sitting by the Gateway building on the Riverplex side. When the kids saw the “Taft” fireworks, they thought they were part of the real event. I did wonder what was going on when I say police vehicles (those little motorcycle-type vehicles) with sirens blaring going down the road in the direction of Taft).
@Cameron…I don’t know if it said Sunday before but it says Monday now.
It said Sunday for sure which struck me as weird. Check out CJ’s copy / paste above.
We were across the street from this but only heard loud bangs and saw everyone that was around run away as fast as possible.
Police called it a “riot”. Are they sure they want to refer to it as a “riot”? Using that word might cause Peoria to get some negative national attention. Remember, “It’s better Here”.
PJStar article on this is now picked up by Drudge.
Whatever happened at Taft caused cars on Adams Street to come to a complete halt. We were leaving out from the Boy & Girls Club event at Kelleher’s at 10:00. Took us 15-20 plus minutes to inch from Washington to Kumpf Blvd because there was almost no traffic movement on Adam. From my perspective this secondary fireworks event was irresponsible considering the danger it posed to MANY in and around the river front trying to enjoy the 4th of July festivities.
While I cannot give a complete eyewitness account as to what went on last night at the fireworks, I can certainly give an “earwitness” account that there were some enormous, major fireworks that were used in the Adams Street area. We had passes to watch the fireworks from the top of the parking deck connected to the Chase Bank Building that is bordered by Adams Street. About a half-hour before the fireworks started, at approximately 8:45pm at night, an event that I can only describe as bomb-like happened. There was an extremely, EXTREMELY loud boom and bright flash that came from the street/parking lot below, and it was obviously more than someone just setting off a few fireworks. It was immense, it rattled and shook the entire parking deck, and was significant enough in nature that many people on the deck viewing area rushed over to the side of the deck to see if they could tell what had happened. The event, frankly, left us a little rattled as well, because there were near constant sirens throughout the area following this event, even after the fireworks show had begun. When we were ready to leave after the fireworks were over, there was complete gridlock around the Adams Street area, as well as a VERY large police presence. Given what seems to be going on in Peoria as of late, the “sonic boom” firework we experienced prior to the start of the fireworks, and the commotion and chaos that ensued afterwards, only continue to make us ever more certain that Peoria is experiencing systemic problems of a very grave nature that seem to be getting more out of hand by the day. And for the record….this account has been vetted and corroborated by my large extended family who were there viewing with me as well!
this story cant be true since nobody has come forward with pictures or video.
(s/c)
Aren’t fireworks W.I.C. approved? Who needs food, when you can just blow sh*t up?
But the Summer is getting started. Soon some skulls will get cracked and then things will really get bad as the “Man” flexes some real muscle. Greece 2.0 arriving in Amerika soon. Don’t think so?! Just you wait and see. It’s already started.
Trust no one. Especially me.
CJ- I thought that I was the only comedian on this blog..your story is a riot (no pun intended)!
We were watching the fireworks from the E.P. side of the river and we noticed what must have been the fireworks from Taft going off for a half hour or more. A lot of people kept wondering if this was part of the Peoria fireworks due to the amount and quality that were being shot off. That must have cost someone a pretty penny because that was a pretty impressive show.
And Rome continues to burn………..
PJS has updated their online article on this incident
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1107265269/Police-briefly-close-Adams-while-dispersing-crowd
While not complaining about PJS effectiveness and quickness, but just maybe their reporter wanted to take more time to ask questions, do more interviews, vetting this story before updating it.
…Luciano fiddles while Peoria burns….
After reading the latest PJS article, I have another question. According to the PJS, the police weren’t called to Taft until the time of the Grand Finale of the official fireworks show. My question: why not earlier before the dumpster fire? Surely all the police in the area saw, as I did, a very sophisticated display of fireworks coming from the vicinity of Taft Homes. Surely, the police knew these fireworks are illegal. I am sure for several days I will be witnessing or hearing the illegal fireworks going off in the area in which I live. I am fairly sure that the police do not do much about these illegalities.
I had the opportunity to drive all over Peoria today (because of work) and especially in the south end around Trewyn, I was stunned at all the fireworks debris. I thought the Police must have turned a blind eye. Then it dawned on me, there was just too many people doing it. It was crazy how much of it was fired off in the streets, and then they are too lazy to go pick it up. Just wanted to add that to the rest of the writings.
Sharon – the PJStar is right (for once!). I saw one of the police cars going down Madison then Hancock AFTER the fireworks in question had been going on for 20-25 minutes already. Frankly my group at first thought they were the “official” fireworks and were discussing how crappy they were for $100K. They were good fireworks for private ones just not what we were expecting from the city. Then when the city fireworks started we realized that someone had spent a great deal of money. Didn’t realize it was the Taft until the cops rolled in and the “show” stopped.
The story has made Drudge. Funny when I clicked on it I still got the “your free views have expired” window. It’s a new month isn’t it? I don’t think the PJS resets free views for the new month until about the 20th.
I’ve watched the “sanctioned” fireworks for years near the Taft area and was confused which were the amateur and which were the professional ones, they are seriously that loud and huge.
I had no idea this was a tradition, but we are usually out of town for the 4th. And given the police officer shortage, I’m not surprised that it went on as long as it did. I know fireworks are “illegal” and I could care less if somebody shoots some off but what I saw was pushing it.
Not sure if they are expecting something tonight but the cops are all over around the Taft as we speak. Just came home from EP and there are 3 patrol cars and 2 SUV’s in the area down there.
Well, at least this story has corroboration and documentation. Back to the question, mob actions do not occur without a unifying reason or coordinator. Who is behind this? And why now? What has happened recently to justify this amount of social rebellion?
Frederick: Because they continue to be allowed to get away with it? There were no arrests last night. There were no arrests last weekend. Until they are held accountable by someone they will continue to be stupid. Why are you looking for a reason? Is it necessary? Will it make it better? Are we supposed to feel better about this thug behavior if there is a reason for it? Stupid criminals are stupid criminals. I’m not criminalizing the fireworks. I’ve done a few myself but attacking the police and firefighters was stupid, criminal behavior pure and simple.
Fredrick Smith–First of all, I, too, always want to keep in mind the underlying causes of social unrest. However, I do not want those causes to eliminate consequences for those individuals responsible for specific criminal acts (same in school). For instsnce, many people who suffer because of underlying causes do not themselves commit illegal acts.
However, the problem at Taft last night was undoubtedly that the police were going to confiscate the illegal fireworks. From what I understand, at Taft and we know in many places all over the city, people shoot off illegal fireworks before, during, and after July 4 and police don’t bother them. This isn’t the first year people in Taft have done this. This display resulted in a fire, so the police had to act. Leslie Smith, I’m sorry but it sounds as though you, also, broke the law–just because you would not go so far as to attack the police officers, what is the excuse for breaking the law? And what excuses might others have for breaking other laws?
People don’t take to the streets when there are jobs to go to, and hope that their dollars will pay the bills.
People don’t take to the streets when their voice is heard by those in power.
People don’t take to the streets when their needs are able to be taken care of.
Oh Charlie. Thank you for the chuckle. That was rich. You don’t know many poor people do you? These people are just poor lost souls in your mind – only if society cared more! Whatever gets you through the day buddy. They have many thousands of dollars of income to expend on something as frivolous as fireworks, but in your mind they barely can afford beans and rice – whilst on the dole, and living in housing I help pay for. Yes, let’s build an even larger wealth redistribution scheme. I’m sure they’ll all be in three piece suits with briefcases tout suite. Anywho, I’ll let you get back to your hand wringing and cringing.
The PJS posted a 22 minute video of the Taft Homes display. I find the behavior of the people and the fact that it looks like thousands of dollars of fireworks were lit off in a public housing complex unacceptable. The PHA then said they sent in workers to clean up the waste the next day. Public housing, where you can do as you please, set fire to dumpsters, and then have the taxpayer clean it up for you the next day. Wow, no wonder a guy approached me at the E Peoria Wal-Mart and wanted to sell me his $200 link card for $100. Apparently you can’t buy fireworks on a link card. This whole Taft Homes thing is a disgrace. Once again, just peoples being peoples.
/end no sarcaism
This is what we get when the laws are not enforced. Certain fireworks are ILLEGAL in Illinois but the police and fire department turn a blind eye to enforcement. They say “everyone is doing it” so no enforcement. The “private” fireworks continue to grow from sparklers to commercial shells. Seems the police, PHA and the fire department knew the fireworks were going to be at Taft. What will 2012 July 4th be? bonfire of a fire machine or police car?
Leslie and Sharon – Apparently you seem to believe the initial, now somewhat better documented, incident on West Thrush and this 2nd incident at the Taft Homes are unrelated events. Illegal fireworks aside, there are reasons for people rising up in anger. I don’t accept “charlie’s” total despair theory, nor am I condoning leniency or “understanding” for anyone who attacks public servants who are trying to do their jobs. I am simply stating that, should this be the second incident of an emerging pattern, there IS an underlying, unifying cause.
Or is it your contention that “those people” simply have no respect for anything, that they are incapable of decent public behavior and need to be somehow sanctioned without addressing the cause of the behavior?
At the risk of being censored by C. J. for this next remark, perhaps we should make members of this group live in designated areas “for their own good” so we can target their groups for stiffer police actions and quicker response. The police might even have special units who are outfitted for more severe response. Manzanar, anyone?
Like it or not, these people are part of our community. We need to find out why the behavior is occurring and address the root problem. If not, we are simply delaying the inevitable.
And I have to add that I agree with Martin to a certain extent. When you fail to enforce the law, the law has no effect. If there is no penalty for jaywalking, curfew violation, littering, and all the other “little” laws that are apparently winked at in our streets because the police have more “serious” crimes to address, there is no respect for the laws. It is a slippery slope that is beginning to catch up with us. You cannot say to people, “it’s okay to disregard these laws, but not those”. If the law is not enforced equally, minor or major laws have no distinction.
Can of worms opened, in search of a bigger can.
The “underlying” cause is called ENTITLEMENT. Stop giving them everything they need with nothing in return. These are 3rd and 4th generation “gimmes” who believe that they are OWED this lifestyle. How about I quit my job, lose my house, quit paying my bills/taxes, have the community give me somewhere to live for FREE, FREE medical insurance, FREE food, FREE clothes, FREE transportation, oh, and while they are at it, continue to look the other way when I “accidentily” BREAK THE LAW. While these Link card recipients “cash in” their cards for money at the beginning of the month, they will then go to EVERY food pantry in the tricounty area to get FOOD. There is SO much wrong with this picture, why does no one see it….just continue to PITY people that do not want or need pity. Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he eats for life. We need to teach people to be responsible, get a job and support their own. Quit relying on the MAN, if they don’t want the MAN in their lives. I shall jump off my soapbox now. BTW, there are jobs out there, even a menial job will raise a person’s self-esteem and lower their expectations of entitlement(especially when they see how much they are paying in taxes).
Frederick, either I am not good at expressing my thoughts or you are misinterpreting them. I don’t disagree with anything you just stated. Yes, I believe these “events” are all related by underlying causes. I certainly agree that the illegal fireworks law is one of those laws for which there is no penalty–and thus the law is eroded. The same thing happens at school with regard to behaviors allowed with no consequences. At that point, your comments seem to be somewhat contradictory. I agree with you that we must heed underlying causes and work to eliminate them, but–in the meantime–the behaviors can’t be ignored and accepted as the expected results. Again, there are many who live in poverty and under racial stigmas who do not behave badly. They should not have to suffer from prejudices of low expectations and worse.
found this video on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIOovPCDUJY
Frederick, either I am not good at expressing my thoughts or you are misinterpreting them. I don’t disagree with anything you just stated. Yes, I believe these “events” are all related by underlying causes. I certainly agree that the illegal fireworks law is one of those laws for which there is no penalty–and thus the law is eroded. The same thing happens at school with regard to behaviors allowed with no consequences. At that point, your comments seem to be somewhat contradictory. I agree with you that we must heed underlying causes and work to eliminate them, but–in the meantime–the behaviors can’t be ignored and accepted as the expected results. Again, there are many who live in poverty and under racial stigmas who do not behave badly. They should not have to suffer from prejudices and low expectations and worse.
Just Me, Do you really believe that if all the unemployed wanted to work that they could find jobs? Aren’t there college graduates who can’t find jobs? Is the unemployment rate due to laziness or is there a job shortage? All who have jobs should probably wonder what their chances would be of getting a job if all of the unemployed were suddenly job-ready. Also, I do believe that the effect of welfare state has probably created a group of people who can do better on welfare than by working. However, the fact still remains that there might not be any jobs for them. At one time (not that long ago), the factory system at Caterpillar allowed many to make good money without even a high school education (both of my uncles, for instance). Those opportunities disappeared gradually but rather quickly over the last 40 years. This nation has never educated all its people–now jobs require it.
Sharon: did you miss the “3rd and 4th generation” of entitlement? Are you just turning a blind eye to the people who DO NOT want to work because it is just as enticing to stay home and accept freebies from all the GENEROUS taxpayers? Really? If someone REALLY wants to work, they will get the skills necessary to work, FREE, of course. Quit defending the indefensible.
I refuse to believe that shooting off fireworks is a form of protest.
There are plenty of manufacturing jobs available locally if you actually have skills. Welders, machinists and assembly mechanics jobs go begging right now. Look at the want ads.
That said, if you get out of high school with few skills, good luck.
The lack of vocational training in high schools is a much overlooked issue for young people.
I just finished watching the video from Taft Homes on July 4th. It’s amazing to me how well dressed, people without JOBS are. Oh, I also noticed the white t-shirt and denim shorts with white tennis shoes….on soooo many of those nice young men. I’m sure they aren’t GANGBANGERS Sharon, just misunderstood youngsters having fun. My “youngster” never had to belong to a gang, carry a weapon, break the law, or collect free money, while he was “having fun”…..hmmm double-standard don’t cha think!
that was alot of fireworks. how does security work down there? it had to have taken alot of time to set that display up. if it was someones job to find a large pile of illegal fireworks and deal with that pile appropriately, then that someone should lose their job. someone either didnt do their job or ignored the matter.
Here’s an answer for a few of Peorias problems. Tear down Taft. And don’t rebuild. Ever.