What was supposed to be a fireworks-filled night at one of Chicago’s most iconic landmarks turned into a nightmare for one local mother, who says a man exposed himself to her 2-year-old son at Buckingham Fountain and then slipped away before police arrived.
The mother, Estella Jordan, says she confronted the man and immediately called 911, but he ran off through the crowded plaza before officers could find him. Jordan says she has since struggled to get an official police report on file and wants authorities to pull surveillance footage from the lakefront hotspot. Her family, she says, has been left rattled and questioning safety at a place where parents routinely bring kids for summer fireworks and fountain shows.
As reported by FOX 32 Chicago, Jordan says she and her son had just arrived Wednesday night to watch fireworks when the encounter unfolded.
“We just entered the fountain area; I was recording him,” she told the station, describing how she started yelling at the man before he bolted toward Columbus Drive and Michigan Avenue. Jordan described the suspect as an older white man in a maroon shirt and tan pants. She says she wants a formal police report documented and for officials to comb through any available video from the scene.
Reporting and 311
The city’s 311 non-emergency system and the Chicago Police Department’s online portal are the official routes for filing non-emergency police reports, though callers sometimes run into long waits and confusing directions. CHI 311 outlines how to reach the city for non-emergency issues and which situations qualify for online reports.
CBS Chicago has previously detailed how some residents have struggled to get through to Chicago police on non-emergency lines when call volumes spike, underscoring the challenges Jordan says she is now facing as she tries to get her case fully logged.
Park security and surveillance
Jordan is urging both the Chicago Park District and police to review surveillance video and step up patrols around the Grant Park plaza that surrounds the Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain. The fountain, run by the Chicago Park District and located at 301 S. Columbus Dr., is a heavily trafficked tourist and event magnet throughout the summer.
The Chicago Park District notes that the fountain is a centerpiece of Grant Park. Jordan told FOX 32 Chicago she is worried the man could target other families if he is not identified.
What to do if you see something
Authorities advise that if you witness a threatening situation in real time you should call 911 immediately. For incidents that have already happened, keep any videos or photos and contact 311 or use the Chicago Police Department’s online reporting tool to submit a report.
Time-stamped recordings, along with a clear description of the suspect and which way the person ran, can make a big difference for investigators trying to track someone who has fled. Jordan is asking anyone who may have captured footage near Buckingham Fountain on the night of the incident to share it with police as her family continues to push for a formal investigation.
