Teens punch police horse at Lollapalooza: cops

The boys struck the animal after an officer positioned the horse between people to break up a fight, police said.

SHARE Teens punch police horse at Lollapalooza: cops
People try to stay dry during a light rain at Lollapalooza 2017 last August. | Ashlee Rezin / Sun-Times

Two teen boys were hit with misdemeanor charges after hitting a police horse in the 400 block of South Michigan Avenue, Aug. 4, 2019.

Ashlee Rezin / Sun-Times

Two teens were arrested Sunday at Lollapalooza for allegedly punching a police horse.

The boys, 15 and 17, were among a group that was threatening each other and beginning to fight in the 400 block of South Michigan Avenue, according to Chicago police.

A CPD mounted unit officer tried to break up the scuffle about 7 p.m. by placing his horse in the middle of the group, police said.

The 17-year-old then punched the horse in the face, police said. When the officer tried to detain the teen, the 15-year-old stepped forward and also punched the horse.

Officers arrested the older boy at the scene, according to police. The younger boy ran away, but was arrested by a bike unit in the 100 block of East Van Buren Street.

They were both charged with a single misdemeanor count of “teasing, striking or tampering with a police animal,” police said.

The Latest
As the death toll mounts in the war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis worsens, protesters at universities all over the U.S. are demanding that schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the conflict.
White Sox starter Chris Flexen delivered the best start of his season, throwing five scoreless innings, three walks and two strikeouts in Friday’s 9-4 win over the Rays.
Notes: Lefty Justin Steele threw in an extended spring training game Friday.
Imanaga held the Red Sox to one run through 6 1/3 innings in the Cubs’ 7-1 win Friday.
Hundreds of protesters from the University of Chicago, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago and Roosevelt University rallied in support of people living in Gaza.