By Dermot Connolly
An Orland Park municipal hearing is scheduled for Wednesday on the revocation of the business license for Sky Zone after a Sept. 12 melee at the indoor trampoline park.
Mayor Keith Pekau and other village officials provided an update on the situation after two nearby residents asked about it at the Village Board meeting Monday night.
He explained that police responded to a report of a disturbance that night at the entertainment center located at 66 Orland Square Mall, near Orland Square Mall, and found that a fight had broken out between three juveniles. When police went in, they found more than 800 youths between 10 and 17 were inside, reportedly participating in a lock-in until 1 a.m.
Because that number far exceeds fire code regulations, the police shut the business down and ordered everybody out. Four arrests were made and neighboring police departments were called in to help maintain order outside, as the juveniles waited for rides home.
The nearby residents said they heard what sounded like “1,000 sirens,” from police cars. They were hesitant to believe what was being said on social media and wanted to hear it from village officials.
“We can’t comment too much on it because we may have to hear the case,” said Pekau. “But they have been ticketed. Just like everybody else, businesses are the same. They are presumed innocent (until proved guilty).”
Attorney Dennis Walsh explained that the business has been issued with a notice of revocation and Village Manager George Koczwara will hear the case on Sept. 30.
Village staff will present its case, as will the Sky Zone owners.
“If the ruling is averse to the merits of Sky Zone, they are entitled to appeal to the full village board,” he said.