rmc85
06-14-2008, 13:12
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20080612/GUARDIAN/806120306
Wal-Mart blocks intrusion by teens
By BY LISE FISHER
Special to the Guardian
Published: Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 2:50 p.m.
Hundreds of teenagers again tried to enter three Gainesville Wal-Mart stores overnight during the weekend, an apparent repeat of a recent incident in which teenagers disrupted business at one of the stores.
But, this time, police and employees were ready.
Additional officers, tips from the public and efforts by employees stopped what police described as a form of "cruising" by teenagers overnight Friday and Saturday.
Instead of driving or walking up University Avenue or nearby streets, teenagers seem to have decided to gather at Gainesville Wal-Marts, possibly because the stores are open late and have ample parking, police said. And that's when the problems start, officers said.
"It's not as if these kids are going to a parking lot and hanging out. They are trying to cause trouble, either with fighting or stealing. They're just acting like a bunch of kids who have never been told â€òno,' " said Gainesville Police Lt. Keith Kameg.
In one case over the June 1 weekend, as many as 100 teens showed up at the new Wal-Mart Supercenter off Waldo Road, where they starting horseplaying and upsetting customers, police reported. Some nearby residents later complained they got a slow response to requests for help to disperse the crowd.
This weekend, things were different. When teens showed up first at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, then the NW 13th Street Wal-Mart and the following night the Archer Road Wal-Mart, they were met by employees who wouldn't let them inside the store or officers who were outside the businesses.
"This garbage is going to stop. It's definitely on the radar of the party patrol, for zone officers. We hope to break this trend," Kameg said. "We have enough crime issues in this town. We should not be baby-sitting high school kids. Conversely, our businesses and our city should not have to be dealing with this."
Officers first learned something might happen at the Wal-Mart Supercenter when someone with the store who was at another business overheard that a large group of high school students might be headed to the Wal-Mart. Police also received a report that about 100 teens had gathered at a Kangaroo gas station on NE Waldo Road, where fights had started with teens armed with sticks.
Police arrived at the gas station and the crowd scattered, Kameg said. One vehicle that drove away later crashed near apartments in the 3100 block of NE 15th Street. The vehicle, a Toyota Tundra, turned out to have been stolen from the High Springs area.
Soon after, teenagers began arriving at the Wal-Mart Supercenter off Waldo Road. But police had extra officers in the area, and the crowd of about 100 quickly left, Kameg said.
Other officers, sent to the NW 13th Street Wal-Mart that night, reported that some teenagers showed up at that business but left when they saw police.
The following night, police were called to break up a large party of about 300 teenagers celebrating high school graduation at Gainesville Place Apartments, 2800 SW 35th Place, Kameg said. When officers arrived, a fight broke out among some of the teenagers. Kameg said a 15-year-old Kanapaha Middle School student struck Officer Justin Poirot in the face as police were trying to separate those fighting. The teen was arrested on charges of battery of a law enforcement officers and affray.
As the party wound down, police received reports the crowd had gone to the Wal-Mart store on Archer Road, Kameg said. When the teenagers tried to enter the business, employees wouldn't let them in.
Officers cleared the crowd from the parking lot, Kameg said. Some teenagers went to other locations, but police followed them. As they moved from location to location, Kameg said the group quickly dwindled.
The Wal-Mart Supercenter is working to sign a contract with Gainesville Police that will post off-duty officers at the store Thursday through Sunday nights, said local Wal-Mart spokeswoman Quenta Vettel.
Similar problems have occurred in other areas in the state and at other businesses open late or that have large parking lots where crowds can gather, Vettel said.
Vettel said the stores will not accept this type of behavior and employees are working with police to stop it.
"Our stores are there for the convenience of our customers to shop," Vettel said. "We will not accept this, whether it is young people or anyone else with the intent of not being there to shop.
"Where are the parents?" Kameg said. "There is not one, absolutely zero thing for a 15-year-old to do at 3 a.m. in the morning that is good for society."
Wal-Mart blocks intrusion by teens
By BY LISE FISHER
Special to the Guardian
Published: Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 2:50 p.m.
Hundreds of teenagers again tried to enter three Gainesville Wal-Mart stores overnight during the weekend, an apparent repeat of a recent incident in which teenagers disrupted business at one of the stores.
But, this time, police and employees were ready.
Additional officers, tips from the public and efforts by employees stopped what police described as a form of "cruising" by teenagers overnight Friday and Saturday.
Instead of driving or walking up University Avenue or nearby streets, teenagers seem to have decided to gather at Gainesville Wal-Marts, possibly because the stores are open late and have ample parking, police said. And that's when the problems start, officers said.
"It's not as if these kids are going to a parking lot and hanging out. They are trying to cause trouble, either with fighting or stealing. They're just acting like a bunch of kids who have never been told â€òno,' " said Gainesville Police Lt. Keith Kameg.
In one case over the June 1 weekend, as many as 100 teens showed up at the new Wal-Mart Supercenter off Waldo Road, where they starting horseplaying and upsetting customers, police reported. Some nearby residents later complained they got a slow response to requests for help to disperse the crowd.
This weekend, things were different. When teens showed up first at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, then the NW 13th Street Wal-Mart and the following night the Archer Road Wal-Mart, they were met by employees who wouldn't let them inside the store or officers who were outside the businesses.
"This garbage is going to stop. It's definitely on the radar of the party patrol, for zone officers. We hope to break this trend," Kameg said. "We have enough crime issues in this town. We should not be baby-sitting high school kids. Conversely, our businesses and our city should not have to be dealing with this."
Officers first learned something might happen at the Wal-Mart Supercenter when someone with the store who was at another business overheard that a large group of high school students might be headed to the Wal-Mart. Police also received a report that about 100 teens had gathered at a Kangaroo gas station on NE Waldo Road, where fights had started with teens armed with sticks.
Police arrived at the gas station and the crowd scattered, Kameg said. One vehicle that drove away later crashed near apartments in the 3100 block of NE 15th Street. The vehicle, a Toyota Tundra, turned out to have been stolen from the High Springs area.
Soon after, teenagers began arriving at the Wal-Mart Supercenter off Waldo Road. But police had extra officers in the area, and the crowd of about 100 quickly left, Kameg said.
Other officers, sent to the NW 13th Street Wal-Mart that night, reported that some teenagers showed up at that business but left when they saw police.
The following night, police were called to break up a large party of about 300 teenagers celebrating high school graduation at Gainesville Place Apartments, 2800 SW 35th Place, Kameg said. When officers arrived, a fight broke out among some of the teenagers. Kameg said a 15-year-old Kanapaha Middle School student struck Officer Justin Poirot in the face as police were trying to separate those fighting. The teen was arrested on charges of battery of a law enforcement officers and affray.
As the party wound down, police received reports the crowd had gone to the Wal-Mart store on Archer Road, Kameg said. When the teenagers tried to enter the business, employees wouldn't let them in.
Officers cleared the crowd from the parking lot, Kameg said. Some teenagers went to other locations, but police followed them. As they moved from location to location, Kameg said the group quickly dwindled.
The Wal-Mart Supercenter is working to sign a contract with Gainesville Police that will post off-duty officers at the store Thursday through Sunday nights, said local Wal-Mart spokeswoman Quenta Vettel.
Similar problems have occurred in other areas in the state and at other businesses open late or that have large parking lots where crowds can gather, Vettel said.
Vettel said the stores will not accept this type of behavior and employees are working with police to stop it.
"Our stores are there for the convenience of our customers to shop," Vettel said. "We will not accept this, whether it is young people or anyone else with the intent of not being there to shop.
"Where are the parents?" Kameg said. "There is not one, absolutely zero thing for a 15-year-old to do at 3 a.m. in the morning that is good for society."
