Elmwood Park halts nighttime booze sales

After a series of incidents, including shots fired between two groups at a gas station Monday, Elmwood Park will prohibit sales of packaged beer, wine or liquor after 9 p.m. The rule came in the form of an executive order issued by Mayor Angelo “Skip” Saviano.

Police said it will cut down on “public disturbances” from Chicago residents coming to the village to purchase alcohol.

Saviano said that since Chicago issued an alcohol sales curfew, there has been an “increased” number of people buying it at night in Elmwood Park. Chicago started that curfew in April.

“While that is good for business, along with the increase in people came an increase in public disturbances,” Saviano said in an email Thursday. “… I determined it in the best interest of the town to limit sales of packaged goods to be consistent with the City of Chicago. We will evaluate this going forward but in all cases the safety of our residents will remain our top priority.”

Elmwood Park Police Chief Frank Fagiano said the village will follow Chicago’s alcohol sales curfew. The order only affects alcohol purchased at stores to be consumed off-premises. Bars and restaurants can continue to sell alcohol.

“When the city lifts their curfew, we’re going to do the same thing,” Fagiano said.

Fagiano said the village had been forming plans to institute the curfew after other incidents, but decided to take action on the order after an incident Monday night in which an argument inside a gas station led to someone firing shots at another vehicle.

Two parties in separate vehicles were buying alcohol around 10 p.m. at the BP Amoco gas station on North

Harlem and West Diversey avenues and began arguing inside and outside the station, Fagiano said.

As the vehicles left, someone from one vehicle fired shots at the other, and both vehicles fled into Chicago. No one was injured, Fagiano said.

Chicago police located one of the vehicles and found a handgun. Three Chicago residents were arrested, police said, including Stephanie Fitz, 27, who was charged with reckless discharge of firearm and reckless conduct; Darrien Roldan-Brossett, 27, who was charged with aggravated reckless discharge of firearm, unlawful use of weapon and reckless conduct; and Javier DelgaadoOcampo, 24, who was charged with mob action.

The three are scheduled to appear in court Sept. 30. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.