SBPD Police Chief addresses shots fired in Eddy Street Commons, increased patrols
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- According to South Bend police, officers responded to the report of shots fired on Sunday along the 1100 block of East Angela Boulevard in the Eddy Street Commons area.
South Bend police say there were no injuries, but an entryway window at the Embassy Suites was damaged by 'apparent gunfire'.
During Notre Dame’s home opener, on Saturday, September 13th, there was another shots-fired incident in the Eddy Street Commons area. Police say no injuries were reported in that situation, but did say cars and apartments were damaged by what police are also calling ‘apparent gunfire’.
After that weekend, police told ABC57 they were increasing their presence in the area, in a statement below from Assistant Chief Dan Skibins with SBPD.
"The South Bend Police Department has made resource adjustments due to this incident, similar to past adjustments caused by firearm-related incidents. Greater police presence should be expected and a lesser degree of tolerance for unruly behavior. Notably, changes in police tactics will be utilized as well as technology-based adjustments will be in place."
Detectives are still working on last weekend’s shots-fired call, and South Bend Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski says investigators have had contact with people who were potentially involved with that.
As of Monday morning, Chief Ruszkowski told ABC57 no one has been arrested in either of the shots-fired incidents.
"We want everybody to go out anywhere in this city and have a good time. But we don't want anybody who has nefarious intentions out there bringing it to other people who have none. We don't want it at all. But now, you're incorporating people who have nothing to do with anything. Just want to go about their business and have a good time, and now you've put them in danger," said Ruszkowski
ABC57 asked if these two instances were related. Here's what Chief Ruszkowski said:
"Unfortunately, we tend to see the same faces, the same people, the same ones we've arrested, the same ones we've detained, are right back out, doing the same things again. So, there's a lot of familiar faces that are down there that we are familiar with, unfortunately."
Separate from the shots-fired call, as a result of Saturday's increase in police presence, police say 13 people were arrested.
Chief Ruszkowski explained how they work with other departments on and around campus.
"I know that we've been working closely with Notre Dame security and their police department, trying to at least stem down some of the issues where you'll have large groups that will go and they will essentially invade tailgates, use threats and intimidation. Our intervention occurs. We have South Bend officers and other agencies that work with Notre Dame on campus, and then once from campus, they just--- I mean-- a lot of times, just go across the street and then continue their antics there," said Ruszkowski.
The 13 arrests span eight different cases, according to police. Police say one of the people arrested had an outstanding warrant.
Among those arrested, some are facing various misdemeanor counts of resisting law enforcement, criminal trespass, battery, and one felony charge of resisting law enforcement causing bodily injury.
"There's some officers who were injured during some of the arrests and/or altercations that were down there. No officer is off work, but nonetheless, there were batteries that did occur against the
Officers," said Ruszkowski.
Police say three handguns, one of which was reported stolen, and a rifle were recovered over the weekend. SBPD tells ABC57 that anyone who had firearms, even in an unrelated arrest situation, would have to hand over their weapon because they can’t bring them to jail.
Chief Ruszkowski explained what happened on Saturday in the Eddy Street Commons.
"Groups will gather. They will block sidewalks. They will block portions of streets and not let vehicles or people get through or around. And you can't do that. It's against the law," said Ruszkowski. "So, officers [are] asking nicely, 'please move on. You're blocking the street, you're blocking the sidewalk,' or whatever. If they move, fine, end of story. If they refuse, and we tell them to go, and then we have to make them, that's why you see 13 arrests. You push us to the point where we have to make you do this responsibility, accountability, decorum, that's all you need, go about your business, be like everyone else, be like the majority, and just go about your business," said Ruszkowski.
SBPD tells ABC57 it helps enforce Eddy Street Commons' code of conduct -- which you can find on Kite Realty’s website (Code of Conduct — Eddy Street Commons). Kite is the real estate group that manages Eddy Street Commons. It says things like: no loitering, no weapons, and act responsibly, outlining prohibited conduct in the commons.
"Being decent human beings, having some decorum, having respect for other people is the bottom line. That is the easiest solution to any of this, to go down there, display firearms, to yell obscenities, profanities from a block away at somebody you don't like, or vice versa. That just makes no sense to me. I don't think it makes sense to anyone," said Ruszkowski.
Police say you can share crime information anonymously using Michiana Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP or going to p3tips.com/203.