Youth advocates are calling for change after a chaotic gathering of juveniles at Sacramento’s Downtown Commons Friday night led to several citations and arrests. The Sacramento Police Department said 80 to 100 juveniles were “causing a ruckus and disturbance” at DOCO. Police first received calls about the disturbance around 8:30 p.m. Friday. Police said a total of seven juveniles were cited and released to their parents: one for resisting and battery on a peace officer, two for violating curfew and four for resisting/interference. Police also said five officers were assaulted and three officers were lightly injured. Sacramento Police sent KCRA 3 a statement regarding the incident and its enforcement actions: “Our officers made wise decisions in the face of attacks by these juveniles who were fleeing from them. , causing disruption, etc. This type of behavior is unacceptable and fortunately none of our officers were seriously injured. SPD takes a strong stance to protect our community through dedicated service. » Berry Accius, community advocate and founder of Voice of the Youth, said the activity at DOCO Friday night is a reminder of the “connections” of young people in various places in the Sacramento area that were important during the “They were visiting in different malls all over and different locations around the city and county and there would show up, I mean, hundreds of kids who had nothing to do,” Accius said. “It’s dangerous. A lot of unruly young people, young people who are out to wreak havoc.” Although Accius works closely with children and adolescents through Voice of the Youth, he said that There’s only so much community organizations like his can do. He added that real change has to start at home, with young people’s families taking a more active approach. “The biggest part of the equation is the parents. aren’t doing their job,” Accius said. “When parents aren’t involved in understanding what their child is doing, you have a moment like this…you have to start tracking your child better, and I don’t think so. Not that enough parents are doing it.” Tyler McClure, the CEO of the youth mentoring organization Gifted Misfits, said more resources need to be available to Sacramento youth, especially later in the evening. “We we need financing. We need safe spaces for our citizens. Where are the night spaces where they can go wild with good supervision, good music, good atmosphere and good food? » said McClure. “If we want this to stop, we will put our money where our mouth is.” We will put our money where our heart is. We will put our money where our policies are. ” McClure said the hope is to keep children engaged in positive activities and keep them from going out on the streets at night. “There is no benefit to staying out late. This is when most of our children are slaughtered. That’s when they rob the place. That’s when they were arrested. That’s when the fighting happens,” McClure said. According to Sacramento city code, it is illegal for a minor to speak in a public space during curfew hours, which is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. include if the minor is with a guardian, involved in an emergency, or attending an official school function or sporting event. Sacramento police also said Svyatoslav Stankevich, 34, threw a metal pipe at a police officer and broke the window of a patrol car during the disturbance. Friday at DOCO. He was arrested for felony assault of a peace officer, felony vandalism, resisting arrest and providing a false name to officers. Two other adults were also arrested for resisting and interfering. See more coverage of major California news stories here | Download our app.
Youth advocates are calling for change after a chaotic gathering of juveniles at Sacramento’s Downtown Commons Friday night led to several citations and arrests.
The Sacramento Police Department said 80 to 100 juveniles were “causing a ruckus and disturbance” at DOCO. Officers first received calls about the disturbance around 8:30 p.m. Friday.
Police said a total of seven juveniles were cited and released to their parents: one for resisting and battery on a peace officer, two for violating curfew and four for resisting/interference. Police also said five officers were assaulted and three officers were lightly injured.
Sacramento Police sent KCRA 3 a statement regarding the incident and its enforcement action:
“Our agents made good decisions in the face of attacks by these minors who were fleeing them, causing disorder, etc. This type of behavior is unacceptable and fortunately none of our officers were seriously injured. SPD takes a strong stance to protect our community through dedicated service.
Berry Accius, community advocate and founder of Voice of the Youth, said the activity at DOCO Friday evening is a reminder of the “connections” of young people in various places in the Sacramento area that were important during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 19.
“They would go to different malls all over and different places around the city and county and show up, I mean, hundreds of kids with nothing to do,” Accius said. “It’s dangerous. Lots of undisciplined young people, young people who are there to wreak havoc.
Although Accius works closely with children and teens through Voice of the Youth, he said many community organizations like him can’t do that. He added that real change must start at the national level, with a more active approach to young people’s families.
“Most of the equation is parents not doing their job,” Accius said. “When parents aren’t involved in understanding what their child is doing, you have a moment like this… you have to start tracking your child better, and I don’t think enough parents do that.”
Tyler McClure, CEO of youth mentoring organization Gifted Misfits, said more resources need to be available to Sacramento youth, especially later in the evening.
“We need funding. We need safe spaces for our citizens. Where are the night spaces where they can go wild with good supervision, good music, good atmosphere and good food? » said McClure. “If we want this to stop, we will put our money where our mouth is.” We will put our money where our heart is. We will put our money where our policies are.
McClure said the hope is to keep children engaged in positive activities and keep them from going out on the streets at night.
“There is no benefit to staying out late. This is when most of our children are slaughtered. That’s when they rob the place. That’s when they were arrested. That’s when the fighting breaks out,” McClure said.
According to Sacramento city code, it is illegal for a minor to speak in a public space during curfew hours, which is between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Some exceptions to this rule include if the minor is accompanied by an involved guardian. in case of emergency or to attend an official school function or sporting event.
Sacramento police also said Sviatoslav Stankevich, 34, threw a metal pipe at a police officer and broke the window of a patrol car during Friday’s disturbance at DOCO. He was arrested for felony assault of a peace officer, felony vandalism, resisting arrest and providing a false name to officers.
Two other adults were also arrested for resistance and interference.
See more coverage of California’s top stories here | Download our app.