South Side Alderman Claims He was Punched Trying to Disperse Hookers

Photo: Ald. David Moore (17th)

A South Side alderman says he was punched and kicked when he tried to chase some prostitutes off a block in his ward early Sunday morning.

Ald. David Moore (17th), whose ward spans parts of Auburn Gresham, Marquette Park, West Englewood and West Chatham, was returning home early Sunday after investigating another complaint, when he saw a group of people congregating near 75th Street and Peoria Avenue.

A statement released by Moore’s office to news media said the people were “soliciting.” When Moore went to disperse the crowd, the alleged offenders began to yell and hit him, even after he identified himself as a Chicago alderman.

The group fled the scene. Chicago police said they received a complaint from a 49-year-old man around 3 a.m., but police don’t identify alleged victims.

Moore told NBC 5 Chicago that he received a call from a resident complaining about the group earlier Saturday. He said that residents have complained for your years about prostitution near 75th and Peoria.

“In an effort to make the 17th Ward a desirable place to live for everyone, we have to address all unwanted criminal activity,” Moore said. “There are no harmless crimes.”

Chicago police arrested a 22-year-old man in the area on a battery case. The man was due in bond court on Sunday, WGN News 9 reported.

Moore was elected to his first term as 17th ward alderman in April. The rookie alderman also garnered headlines earlier this year when he refused to sign a permit for a block party celebrating the end of filming for Spike Lee’s new film “Chiraq.”