In a disquieting event on Chicago's West Side, a scuffle at a funeral service resulted in the injury of three police officers last Saturday. The confrontation occurred at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, located in the 4300 block of West Madison in the West Garfield Park neighborhood, according to CBS News Chicago.
Police were summoned to the church around 12:30 p.m. following reports of a fight during the funeral service; the situation escalated when some officers were attacked by individuals attending the service, a video uploaded on Facebook showed an officer bleeding from the head however the events preceding the altercation remained unclear
The Chicago Police Department confirmed the injuries, stating three officers received treatment at local hospitals and were subsequently released, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. The officers responding to the melee were met with violence from several participants, though the department has yet to disclose the nature of the initial altercation that prompted the police response.
Two men are facing charges in connection with the incident; Demarco Hunter, aged 25, is charged with aggravated battery, and Michael Fitzgerald, 37, faces added charges for resisting and obstructing an officer both men were taken into custody at the scene and are expected to appear in court on Monday, as chaos ensued in the church premises the officers were compelled to vacate the location posthaste, according to arrest records provided by the police.
