PHILADELPHIA , Police arrested multiple people and issued several citations after a second night of teen crowds descended on Center City, prompting officers to boost patrols around City Hall.
The trouble started Sunday as the Made in Philadelphia Summer Market was winding down near Dilworth Park. Hundreds of teenagers flooded the area as vendors packed up tents, according to Jimmy Freeman of Logan, who watched it all unfold through his Meta glasses.
All the vendors were out. Tents were everywhere. They were just breaking up. And as they were breaking up the tents and the stuff, all this chaos started happening. It was just wild. You would have to be here to experience it.
Video Freeman shared with Action News showed fights breaking out and officers tending to one person who fell to the ground. Police said they are pulling from videos circulating on social media as part of their investigation.
Sunday’s arrests included one person on a firearm charge, another on a robbery charge, and a third on a disorderly conduct charge, police said. Seven additional citations were issued for disorderly conduct.
Jonathan Dunleavy of Queen Village was walking to his girlfriend’s home when he walked straight into the chaos.
We had flash mobs when I was this age. Never like this. Never in Center City.
Dunleavy said he heard a gunshot erupt from the crowd.
I heard, ‘Yo, he’s got a gun!’ So I stopped and turned and heard pop pop.
Police said an officer saw a young man tuck something into a backpack after the shot rang out. A foot chase followed, and when officers caught up, they recovered a handgun loaded with 37 rounds.
On Monday, with patrols stepped up around City Hall and other parts of Center City, groups of teenagers again filled the streets. Action News watched several arrests play out, including an officer walking away from one scuffle with a bloodied face.
Action News has reached out to Philadelphia police for more information about Monday’s arrests and to Mayor Cherelle Parker’s office for comment.
As police sort through hours of social video and more arrests pile up, Freeman’s footage of Sunday’s chaos could end up at the center of the case.
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