PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria City Council is giving police another tool to help deal with unruly crowds.

On Tuesday night, city council unanimously approved amending city code to make it easier for police to disperse crowds. The ordinance comes in the wake of an incident in downtown Peoria in late-September where a crowd of more than 50 people impeded police from assisting a gunshot wound victim.

The ordinance would apply to crowd sizes of 10 people or more. It would qualify as a “nuisance gathering” if at least two of 15 qualifying offenses occur. Some of the offenses include illegal drinking, underage drinking, unlawful possession or use of cannabis, unlawful weapon possession, vandalism, criminal trespassing, firing weapons, and obstructing police.

Mayor Rita Ali promised to have

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