Federal Agents Use Tear Gas, Disrupt Northwest Side Halloween Parade

Federal agents unleashed tear gas on residents in Old Irving Park and Avondale on Saturday morning, continuing a four-day trend of utilizing chemical irritants in the Chicago area. Witnesses reported the arrest of three individuals, including 35-year-old Luis Villegas, who was taken down by agents while working on a personal project. Homeland Security officials justified the arrests, citing a 1000% increase in assaults against officers, although they provided no evidence of Villegas's alleged criminal history. Local residents expressed outrage, labeling the use of tear gas as harmful and illegal, especially as it disrupted a nearby Halloween parade. One witness described the chaotic scene, seeing neighbors heckle officers and agents don gas masks before deploying the irritants.

State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe criticized the federal agents' actions in a Facebook post, highlighting the trauma inflicted on the community. The incident has raised concerns about law enforcement tactics in neighborhoods, particularly during community events. As tensions escalate, local leaders are calling for a reevaluation of such aggressive policing methods.