Youth advocates are calling for change after a chaotic gathering of minors 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” in DOCO. Officers first got calls about the commotion around 8:30 p.m. on Friday.Police said seven juveniles total were cited and released to parents: one of resisting and battery on a peace officer, two for curfew violation and four for resisting/interfering. Police also said five officers were assaulted, with three officers sustaining minor injuries.Sacramento police sent KCRA 3 a statement regarding the incident and their enforcement action:“Our officers made sound decisions in the face of being assaulted by these minors who were running from them, causing a disturbance, etc. That type of behavior is unacceptable and thankfully, none of our officers were seriously injured. SPD takes a firm stance in protecting our community through dedicated service.”Community advocate and Voice of the Youth founder Berry Accius said the activity at DOCO Friday night is reminiscent of youth “linkups” at various locations around the Sacramento area that were prominent during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.“They were going to different shopping centers all over and different places in the city and the county and just showing up, I mean, hundreds of kids with nothing to do,” Accius said. “It’s dangerous. A lot of unruly youth, youth that are there to cause havoc.”Although Accius works closely with kids and teens through Voice of the Youth, he said there is only so much community-based organizations like his can do. He added that true change needs to start at home, with the families of young people taking a more active approach.“The major part of the equation is parents are not doing their jobs,” Accius said. “When parents don’t get involved to figure out what their child is doing, you have a moment like this… you have to start tracking your kid a lot better, and I don’t think enough parents are doing that.”Tyler McClure, the CEO of the youth mentoring organization Gifted Misfits, said more resources need to be available for Sacramento’s youth, especially later in the evening.“We need funding. We need safe spaces for our people to be. Where are the late-night spaces where they can rock out with proper supervision and good music and good vibes and good food?” McClure said. “If we want it to stop, we’ll put our money where our mouth is. We’ll put our money where our hearts are. We’ll put our money where our policies are.”McClure said the hope is to keep kids engaged in positive activities and keep them off the streets at night.“There hasn’t been a benefit in being out late. That’s when most of our kids are shot. That’s when they’re robbing places. That’s when they’re getting arrested. That’s when the fights are happening,” McClure said.According to City of Sacramento code, it is unlawful for a minor to say in a public space during curfew hours, which is between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The few exceptions to that 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 34-year-old Svyatoslav Stankevich thew a metal pipe at an officer and broke a patrol car window during the commotion Friday at DOCO. He was arrested for felony assault on 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 top California stories here | Download our app.
Youth advocates are calling for change after a chaotic gathering of minors 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” in DOCO. Officers first got calls about the commotion around 8:30 p.m. on Friday.
Police said seven juveniles total were cited and released to parents: one of resisting and battery on a peace officer, two for curfew violation and four for resisting/interfering. Police also said five officers were assaulted, with three officers sustaining minor injuries.
Sacramento police sent KCRA 3 a statement regarding the incident and their enforcement action:
“Our officers made sound decisions in the face of being assaulted by these minors who were running from them, causing a disturbance, etc. That type of behavior is unacceptable and thankfully, none of our officers were seriously injured. SPD takes a firm stance in protecting our community through dedicated service.”
Community advocate and Voice of the Youth founder Berry Accius said the activity at DOCO Friday night is reminiscent of youth “linkups” at various locations around the Sacramento area that were prominent during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They were going to different shopping centers all over and different places in the city and the county and just showing up, I mean, hundreds of kids with nothing to do,” Accius said. “It’s dangerous. A lot of unruly youth, youth that are there to cause havoc.”
Although Accius works closely with kids and teens through Voice of the Youth, he said there is only so much community-based organizations like his can do. He added that true change needs to start at home, with the families of young people taking a more active approach.
“The major part of the equation is parents are not doing their jobs,” Accius said. “When parents don’t get involved to figure out what their child is doing, you have a moment like this… you have to start tracking your kid a lot better, and I don’t think enough parents are doing that.”
Tyler McClure, the CEO of the youth mentoring organization Gifted Misfits, said more resources need to be available for Sacramento’s youth, especially later in the evening.
“We need funding. We need safe spaces for our people to be. Where are the late-night spaces where they can rock out with proper supervision and good music and good vibes and good food?” McClure said. “If we want it to stop, we’ll put our money where our mouth is. We’ll put our money where our hearts are. We’ll put our money where our policies are.”
McClure said the hope is to keep kids engaged in positive activities and keep them off the streets at night.
“There hasn’t been a benefit in being out late. That’s when most of our kids are shot. That’s when they’re robbing places. That’s when they’re getting arrested. That’s when the fights are happening,” McClure said.
According to City of Sacramento code, it is unlawful for a minor to say in a public space during curfew hours, which is between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The few exceptions to that 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 34-year-old Svyatoslav Stankevich thew a metal pipe at an officer and broke a patrol car window during the commotion Friday at DOCO. He was arrested for felony assault on 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 top California stories here | Download our app.
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