Another unpermited park event planned, another one banned by metro-east police

The Cahokia Heights Police Department said it will shut down an unpermitted event planned for Saturday, a day after Belleville police said they would block similarly planned events at two city parks.

An event promoted on social media at the basketball courts in the 400 block of Falling Springs Road in Cahokia Heights will be banned, the Cahokia Heights Police Department said in a news release Friday.

“These types of events are not permitted or authorized by the City of Cahokia Heights and will not be allowed to take place,” according to the news release. “Participants are being advised that they are subject to arrest for these illegal and unauthorized gatherings.

“The Cahokia Heights Police Department is committed to upholding public safety in the community and events such as these will not be tolerated. Illegal activity will result in arrests, citations, or vehicles being towed.”

On Thursday, the Belleville Police Department said events planned for Citizens and Bellevue parks on Saturday would not be allowed because the organizers do not have permits.

The department said it wanted to prevent a repeat of what happened last Saturday when a police officer was “battered” at Citizens Park during a “large gathering” of people.

The gathering at Citizens Park “involved reckless driving near bystanders, fights, reports of possible firearms, and an officer being battered,” the department said in a news release posted on its Facebook page.

The officer who was battered was not injured, and one juvenile was arrested in connection with the incident.