Police report four arrests in connection with a disturbance on the street outside The Keg of Evanston shortly after the bar’s 3 a.m. closing time Saturday.
Deputy Chief Joe Bellino says several fights broke out as 150 to 200 patrons poured out of the bar at 810 Grove St., and “there were shouts between two combative groups signifying their street gang affiliation.”
Evanston police called in Wilmette and Northwestern University officers to help quell the disturbance.
While the fighting was underway, a 27-year-old passerby reported he was struck in the face by a man when he asked him what was going on.
Police have charged 24-year-old Ryan Irving of 1309 Simpson St. with battery in connection with the attack on the passer-by.
They’ve filed disorderly conduct charges against three other men: William Norman, 22, of 1722 Grey; Maurice Jackson, 23, of 9126 Keating in Skokie, and Kelvin Nails, 22, of 809 Mansfield Ct. in Schaumburg.
Evanston police say Norman may also face charges from Northwestern University police regarding damage to a university squad car at the scene of the disturbance.
Keg Brawl
Can anyone make sense of why the bars are open till 3:00am in the first place?—allowing a bunch of young people to stumble out of the bars in the wee hours of the morning is going to kick start our economy?—gimme a break—this is sheer lunacy…A few years back some poor soul was shot and killed outside the Keg under what amounts to the same deal–a 3:00am closing time with a bunch of drunks filing out onto the streets—an argument that started inside the bar picks up again outside and ends up with a murder on the streets of downtown Evanston–One would have to think this might be a good time to axe the whole 3:00am policy right then and there—After temporary order closing the bar pending investigation, our highly esteemed mayor proclaimed “I need to see what role alcohol had in this matter”–DOH…ding dong statement of the decade aside, it’s time to put a stop to the late night liquor licence policy—it does nothing but keep our cops all tied up by the Grove and Sherman area to keep order and the troublemakers start up a bunch of shit anyway…Also, look at where one of those arrested hails from–Schaumburg!—We have people coming in for late night fun from all over Chicago and outlying suburbs—good idea huh?—and do some of these people also get into cars and drive after drinking till 3:00am—you can count on it…call your alderman and tell them it’s time to put an end to late night licences—and also ask if our mayor has come to a conclusion yet about what role drinking plays here…