Video: ‘Teen takeover’ crowd met by police in uptown Charlotte Saturday evening
Hundreds of teenagers flocked to uptown Charlotte on Saturday evening, and police made arrests at the so-called “teen takeover.”
Read more NC Senate advances overhaul of state liquor laws. Here’s what could change
The gathering came after CMPD vowed earlier Saturday to enforce the Charlotte Youth Protection Ordinance, also known as the teen curfew, which restricts minors under 16 from being in public without a parent or guardian between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
“For the parents, we just ask that you just make sure where your children are. If you’re leaving them somewhere, make sure you’re leaving them with another adult that is responsible,” Lt. Ryan Shields with CMPD said in a public service announcement on social media.
On Monday, police issued a news release saying they had arrested 23 teenagers and one adult from the crowd Saturday, and charged 13 parents with citations for allowing their children to be out.
Throughout the evening on Saturday, dozens of police cruisers lined South Church Street, maintaining a presence and keeping crowds of teenagers concentrated in one area to prevent them from spilling into surrounding streets.
An Observer reporter observed that crowds were largely kept to the sidewalks, preventing major traffic disruptions. However, teenagers riding electric bikes raised concerns among motorists because of their unpredictable speeds, causing some drivers to turn another way when they saw the groups of teens.
Law enforcement officers were heard calling for additional officers to help with the crowds.
Read more Is it legal to break a window in Charlotte to save a dog from a hot car?
During the takeover, CMPD officers closed Romare Bearden Park following an altercation inside the park, preventing people from reentering the area.
People arrested during two separate fights appeared to be minors.
Additional arrests occurred along South Church Street. An Observer reporter witnessed officers arresting one individual wearing a custom face mask and another who was placed in the back of a police four-wheeler. Both appeared to be minors.
The crowd largely dispersed around midnight, while CMPD remained on scene to continue enforcing the city’s curfew.
“The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has a zero‑tolerance for criminal activity, including violations of the Youth Protection Ordinance,” Chief Estella Patterson said in a statement Monday. “When juveniles violate this ordinance, we intend to hold them and their parents accountable.”
The trend of “teen takeovers” has happened in numerous cities around the country. Camp North End in Charlotte, a development with businesses and restaurants, added its own curfew in April.
Read more Why is downtown Charlotte called ‘uptown’? Learn the city’s history
