The Chicago Police Department arrested at least 100  overnight following the looting and violence that overtook the streets and injured a couple of police authorities.

Chicago Police
(Photo : Reutersconnect)

Looting and violence overtook the streets in downtown Chicago. This resulted in the arrest of at least 100 people in just one day. Meanwhile, authorities said that a couple of the police officers got injured during the arrest of few people.

According to a published report in ABC News, around 13 officers got injured. This includes a sergeant who was attacked with a bottle. Additionally, two civilians were shot during the unrest after midnight Sunday, and few others were arrested. 

Authorities also reported that in the early hours of Monday morning, hundreds of people staged violence in downtown Chicago. They targeted the Magnificent Mile shopping district and other surrounding areas. Authorities said they vandalized some establishments and staged violence in the area. 

Suspects of the staged violence in downtown Chicago will be facing charges such as looting, battery against police, and disorderly conduct. Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said on Monday that investigators are also searching for suspects who fired shots to police authorities.

Brown said, "As officers were making the arrest, another vehicle passed by the officers and fired shots at the officers, as their vehicle turned the corner, resulting in an exchange in gunfire between officers and the suspects. A bullet was found lodged in the cage of the police vehicle." 

This happened when police officers arrested a suspect who was seen carrying a cash register from the store he had looted out of a store. Meanwhile, police authorities who responded and were shot were reportedly not wounded. 

To address this problem in the city, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said that she implemented a community protection program through a lockdown and with massive police presence. Lightfoot also added that police presence would last until the city and the neighborhoods are safe.

Moreover, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said that the criminal activity had nothing to do with organized protests and described it instead as an assault in the city of Chicago. Lightfoot said on Monday, "These individuals engaged in what only could be described as brazen and extensive criminal looting and destruction. To be clear, this had nothing to do with legitimate, protected First Amendment expression."

According to the investigators, the violence in downtown Chicago was sparked by an inaccurate report online about an unarmed juvenile being shot by a police authority in the Englewood area, Sunday. However, authorities clarified that the victim was a 20-year-old man who opened fire while being chased by police authorities. 

Brown said, "Tempers flared, fueled by misinformation as the afternoon turned into evening. CPD became aware of several social media posts encouraging looting downtown. Officers were dispatched to our downtown area once we got word of the social media posts. Four hundred officers were dispatched to our downtown." 

Check these out!