Curfews, Barricades Mark Day Of Unrest in OL, EP, Beverly

EVERGREEN PARK, OAK LAWN, CHICAGO — Chicago’s three days of looting and rioting spilled into the near south suburbs of Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn, and in Chicago’s 19th Ward after a day of flareups and unrest.

As of Sunday, Oak Lawn police reported making multiple arrests for “burglaries” or looting, at businesses around the village.

Alsip police arrested three suspects who had apparently tried to break into a lawn mower repair shop.

Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, Hometown, Chicago Ridge and Burbank set 9 p.m. curfews in effect through 5 a.m. Monday.

Evergreen Park called a curfew “for purely precautionary measures” from 9 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday, Mayor Jim Sexton said in an email to residents.

“We just want to see you all safe in your homes," Sexton said. "The police are being very vigilant, they are fully on staff, and they are on top of things. You can rest very easily tonight.”

The entire window at Adriana Furs in the Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood was smashed on Sunday after vandals were reported breaking windows earlier in the afternoon. Other than that, 95th Street is calm and police are waiting at the Barraco’s restaurant.

In other developments, over 20 Illinois State Police units have arrived to lend a hand to south suburban police departments, as has the Cook County Sheriff’s Police.

Chicago Ridge police also issued a statement that rumors of looting at the Chicago Ridge Mall earlier Sunday are unfounded.

Div. Chief Gerald Vetter, of the Oak Lawn Police Department, said that a curfew is being put into place starting at 9 p.m. Sunday through 5 a.m. Monday "out of an abundance of caution" due to events happening in other communities around Oak Lawn.

Other towns in the Oak Lawn area are also said to be considering curfews for Sunday evening. Tinley Park and Chicago Ridge have announced curfews.

"Nothing specific has happened in Oak Lawn. This is just for the safety of residents and businesses," Vetter said. "We don't want people out and about this evening. It will help police to monitor the streets and cut down on traffic."

Businesses along Cicero Avenue from Bedford Park stretching south through Burbank and Oak Lawn were told to close as of Sunday afternoon. Entrances to the shopping centers at Cicero and 79th and 87th streets have been blocked off by police barricades and public works vehicles.

>>> Check back for updates on Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn and Beverly-Mount Greenwood.

The entrances Ford City Shopping Center on the Chicago side of Cicero Avenue are blocked after people were reported to gathering earlier Sunday. Some flare-ups were reported near 79th Street and Cicero Avenue near Ford City earlier in the day.

A number of windows of businesses in the city's Beverly neighborhood have been broken, an Evergreen Park police officer confirmed around 2:45 p.m. This as the mayors in Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn have urged residents to remain calm on rumors of looting and rioting there.

Peaceful protests in cities across the nation following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota have been marred by troublemakers looting and rioting.

Looting and rioting has also been reported in neighboring towns, according to an alert a number of Oak Lawn residents received via a test message and robocall. Bury said the alert did not come from the Oak Lawn Police Department.

Here’s what else we know:

-Evergreen Plaza is closed. There are some barricades set up to prevent people from entering the shopping center.

-The Oak Lawn Target closed voluntarily on Sunday, as well as other businesses on 95th Street between Cicero Avenue and Pulaski. Target may remain closed on Monday.

- A window was reported broken at a business near 87th Street and Kedzie Avenue Saturday evening.

- The Evergreen Park shopping centers that are home to Sam's Club and Walmart, as well as the one that's home to Menard's and Meijer among others, have been closed off as firetrucks are being used as barricades.

- Both 79th and 87th streets leading into Burbank have been closed.

The Oak Lawn Police Department issued the following Tweet, shared by Oak Lawn Mayor Sandra Bury:

“The Village of Oak Lawn is not currently experiencing looting. Our officers are on the street. Some local businesses have closed out of safety concerns due to flash-ups in other jurisdictions. Updated public safety info will be posted. Please call 911 with any info.”

Mayor Jim Sexton also issued the following statement in an email to residents:

I want to reach out for a moment and let you know that, yes, there are protesters out in pockets of areas along Western Avenue and 95th, and 87th and Kedzie. Please know that our police department is disbanding these groups as the clusters form.

We are ahead of the game here and I want you to know that our residents are safe and fully protected. That being said, be cautious, stay close to home, enjoy the beautiful day with your family.

Do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 if you see any disturbances or if you feel threatened at all.