Last Updated on February 17, 2022
A video from the recent Chicago riots and looting has gone viral after a seemingly overweight woman running away from law enforcement trips and falls allowing police to make an easy arrest.
Chicago has been rocked by disturbances after social media posts popularized demands for violence after police shot and injured a 20-year-old male suspect in Englewood who had opened fired on police.
However, one short clip of the wanton destruction provided some comic relief as a “heavyset” woman fleeing police trips and falls in her short-lived escape as she carries high-end retail products.
Journalist Andy Ngo tweeted the short clip with the caption: “A heavyset female looter tries to escape from police but trips and falls.”
In the video, a portly looter makes her way out of the vandalized store with goods as other looters dispersed. She begins to sprint before falling flat in front of a few kitted-up riot police, who swarm her to make the arrest.
https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1292803986450452481
The Windy City’s Magnificent Mile was shaken by the violent which peaked a little after midnight.
Five guns were recovered by police; a civilian and private security guard were shot and injured; and over 100 people were arrested for theft.
One police officer suffered a broken nose after being hit in the face with a bottle.
“Hundreds of people looted high-end shops in downtown Chicago overnight and early Monday morning. Law enforcement officials say it was linked to social media posts after police shot and injured a male suspect Sunday afternoon on the city’s South Side,” NPR tweeted.
Hundreds of people looted high-end shops in downtown Chicago overnight and early Monday morning. Law enforcement officials say it was linked to social media posts after police shot and injured a male suspect Sunday afternoon on the city's South Side. https://t.co/nqejYZAHyH
— NPR (@NPR) August 10, 2020
“To be clear, this had nothing to do with legitimate protected First Amendment expression,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday, according to NPR. “What occurred downtown and in surrounding communities was abject criminal behavior, pure and simple … This was straight-up felony criminal conduct.”
Police Superintendent David Brown stressed that last nights events were “an act of violence against our police officers and against our city,” and vowed to increase police presence as a result.
“I pledge to pursue these offenders to the fullest extent of the law,” Brown added.”[The Chicago Police Department] will not stand by as our beautiful downtown becomes someplace people fear.”
Violence has been experienced in several major U.S. cities since late May after the in-custody killing of suspected fraudster George Floyd.