Brawl Near Elmhurst Bar Involves Uber Driver: Cops

Elmhurst IL

17 February, 2021

2:25 PM

Description

ELMHURST, IL — A brawl in Elmhurst earlier this month involved bar patrons and an Uber driver, with punches thrown and a 29-year-old woman on the ground, police said. After the participants told their stories to officers, two men — Donal G. McDaid, 52, of Elmhurst, and James P. Lafferty, 51, of Cicero — were charged under a local ordinance with fighting in public. The incident happened about 10:30 p.m. Feb. 7 at Riley's Gathering Place, 590 S. York St. Elmhurst Patch obtained the police report through a public records request. According to the report, Lafferty, an Uber driver, was picking up a man and a woman from the bar. When they entered, they were disrespectful and told him to wait because another friend was going with them, Lafferty told officers. Lafferty told the patrons he could no longer wait and that he was canceling the ride. The two then got out and slammed the car doors, Lafferty said. Next, Lafferty got out of his car and argued with the patrons about the slamming of the doors, the police report said. At that point, McDaid, the friend they had been waiting for, left the bar. McDaid confronted Lafferty, struck him and knocked him to the ground, Lafferty told officers. The two people who got into the car told a different story. They said Lafferty began driving away immediately as soon as they entered, but they told him they were waiting for McDaid. Lafferty then argued with them about waiting, they said. When McDaid left the bar, the two people said, he called Lafferty a name and then Lafferty swung at his face, but missed, according to the report. To defend himself, McDaid said he punched Lafferty in the eye, police said. McDaid told police that Lafferty was the aggressor and that he was not going to let him hurt his friends. The woman told police that she was knocked to the ground but was unhurt. She said she was not sure if Lafferty struck her or if she was pushed over by accident during the scuffle, police said. Afterward, McDaid said he told Lafferty he could call 911 if he wished. Lafferty did. The bar patrons went back into Riley's, while Lafferty stayed in his car. Lafferty's right eye was swelling, but he declined medical treatment, the police report said. McDaid and Lafferty were released on bond.