Chicago Police officer battered during melee near Washington Park

SUN-TIMES MEDIA WIRE - A Chicago Police officer was battered Wednesday night during a skirmish near Washington Park on the South Side.

About 9:30 p.m., officers spotted “a large number of people on the street, disrupting vehicular traffic and blocking the sidewalk” in the 6100 block of South King Drive, according to police.

“While attempting to restore order, several subjects became combative and a physical altercation ensued,” police said.

One officer was battered while he attempting to restrain a person, police said. He suffered minor injuries, but additional details were not provided.

Two men, a woman and a boy face various charges after being taken into custody Wednesday night, police said.

William Hill, 21, was charged with one misdemeanor count of reckless conduct, police said.

Keith Goldsmith, 26, of the Washington Park neighborhood, was charged with resisting or obstructing a peace officer, obstruction of traffic by a non-motorist, and simple assault, all misdemeanors, police said.

Kiara Tabb, 18, of the South Chicago neighborhood, was charged with obstruction of traffic by a non-motorist, reckless conduct, and resisting or obstructing a peace officer, all misdemeanors, police said.

The 17-year-old boy was charged with felony aggravated battery to a peace officer, and misdemeanor counts of aggravated assault to a peace officer, and resisting or obstructing an officer, police said.