The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department arrested a whopping total of 24 people last night in downtown after an alleged "peace disturbance."
Most of the individuals taken into custody were juveniles, the youngest age thirteen.
The arrests took place right in the middle of downtown around the intersection of Broadway and Market Street. Check out video footage below, along with the full report from police -- and a warning from metro police officials to parents about dropping their children off in this area.
Here's a news report from KTVI (Channel 2), which managed to get some direct footage of the arrests.
The short incident report from the metro police department doesn't offer a whole lot of details.
The arrests took place around 7:30 p.m. last night. Twenty of those arrested were juveniles, and only four were adults. The oldest was one was just twenty years old.
Police say they responded to "complaints concerning a group of juveniles and young adults walking through downtown, blocking sidewalks and impeding the flow of traffic."
Officers quickly gathered the group "to prevent any incidents in the area."
The twenty juveniles taken into custody now facing charges of "general peace disturbance." Police say they were released to the custody of their parents or guardians.
The four adults were booked and issued summons for "general peace disturbance" as well as "contributing to the delinquency of a minor."
In their report, police include this message:
Again, we want to remind parents, this is an entertainment area for adults, and strongly advise against kids being dropped off or allowed to travel to the area.
Meanwhile, St. Louis metro police say that another incident later that evening also involved a large group of individuals. This one took place at Amherst Park and appears to have turned more violent. Thirty individuals were allegedly arguing -- and one sixteen-year-old male was eventually in the shin, police say. He was taken to the hospital where he was in stable condition.
Here's the incident summary from the downtown arrests.
Incident: General Peace Disturbance Location: Broadway & Market Date/Time: 04/13/13 @ 7:37p.m. Victim: City of St. Louis Suspects: 20 juveniles (youngest was age 13), 4 adults (oldest was age 20) After complaints concerning a group of juveniles and young adults walking through downtown, blocking sidewalks and impeding the flow of traffic, officers quickly gathered the group to prevent any incidents in the area. Twenty juvenile were taken into custody and x-booked on the charge of general peace disturbance. The juveniles were released to the custody of a parent/guardian. Four adults were booked and issued summons for general peace disturbance and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Again, we want to remind parents, this is an entertainment area for adults, and strongly advise against kids being dropped off or allowed to travel to the area.
And, from the SLMPD blotter, the Amherst Park incident report:
Incident: Assault 1st (Shooting) Location: Amherst Park @ Amherst/Oakhurst Date/Time: 4/14/13 @ 19:30 Victim(s): 16-year old black male Suspect(s): 2 unknown black males Officers received a call for a shooting at Amherst Park. The victim had been conveyed to a local hospital by a family member. The victim stated he was in the park when a large group of approximately 30 individuals began arguing and two unknown persons began shooting at one another. The victim heard several gunshots and then realized he had been struck one time on the right shin. The victim drove himself to a family member's home then was transported to the hospital and listed in serious/stable condition. The investigation is ongoing.
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