No Arrests Made After Fights Close Carnival: LITH Police

LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — No arrests have been made and no battery victims have come forward after numerous fights and overcrowding were reported at a carnival in Lake in the Hills over the weekend. The fights broke out on Saturday evening and led to officials closing the carnival, which remained closed on Sunday.

Police began receiving 911 calls around 6:30 p.m. Saturday about the fights at the carnival and nearby parking lot in the 100 block of North Randall Road, authorities said. Responding officers encountered “very large crowds” and fights, and worked with neighboring agencies to disperse people and clear the area.

• Fights, Overcrowding, Unchaperoned Teens Force Carnival Closure: Authorities

No injuries were reported, and as of Monday, no one has been arrested in connection with the fights, Amanda Schmitt, public information officer f0r the Lake in the Hills Police Department, told Patch in an email response. Anyone who was attacked or injured in the fights also has not come forward to police with more information.

Making arrests on Saturday was not the focus as officers worked to ensure the safety of everyone involved, Schimtt told Patch on Monday.

"Due to the size of the crowd the focus of the officers responding was safety of the attendees and crowd control and management," she said. "As the crowd was large and there were several groups of agitators, the safest thing to do was to disperse the crowd."

The fights started after "a significant number of unchaperoned teenagers, with intentions to disrupt and cause trouble, descended upon the Carnival and shopping centers in the area," according to a post on the Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Chamber of Commerce Facebook page on Saturday. Schmitt said authorities are not sure why exactly the fights started.

The carnival was closed following the fights on Saturday. On Sunday, chamber officials announced they'd be closing the carnival that day as well "after careful consultation with the Village of Lake in the Hills and our Chief of Police."

"We understand the disappointment this may bring, especially to those who were eagerly anticipating a day of fun and enjoyment," the post read. “We extend our deepest apologies to all those who had their visit cut short and to those who planned to attend the Carnival today and are unable to do so. We also extend our sympathy to the neighboring businesses affected by the disruptions caused by individuals with malicious intentions.”

Over the weekend, authorities also addressed statements made over social media regarding rumors that shots had been fired or a stabbing or stabbings had occurred during the fights. In a post on Facebook, police said they had no "information or evidence at this time to corroborate" the information being shared on social media.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 847-658-5676 or anonymously text “TIP LITHPD” to 888-777.