The arrests of two teens during Valparaiso’s first movie night of the season brought a call for an increased police presence at Central Park Plaza. It’s a situation that police and organizers dealt with last year, too.
“We totally understand it’s not all the kids and it’s not that teenagers aren’t welcome,” said Sgt. Michael Grennes, public information officer for the police department. “We’re trying to say, ‘Come downtown, that’s great, but you’ve got to act appropriately if you’re downtown unsupervised.'”
Problems with misbehaving teens increased last year as the weekly movie series continued and, after last week’s incident, police wanted to be proactive, said Grennes.
Lindsay Knauff, who attended the movie night on June 28 to see “Field of Dreams,” with her young family, was aware that Valparaiso police were keeping a closer eye on unsupervised teens, but said her family never had a problem.
“We haven’t had an issue with it, personally. Obviously, there’s a huge police presence here tonight so I feel comfortable with it and I always have,” she said as several officers milled about the park. “We’ve always had a good experience here and it’s been a good event for us.”
On June 21, during the first movie night, police arrested two teenagers after being called to investigate a battery. A 15-year-old boy reportedly spit on and bit an officer and a 17-year-old girl allegedly jumped on an officer’s back in an attempt to assist the boy.
Problems caused by unsupervised teens runs the gamut from foul language used in front of families with young children to flowers ripped out of flower beds, vandalism, and the arrests that took place last week.
This is the ninth season for downtown movie nights, said Tina St. Aubin, executive director of Valparaiso Events, which sponsors the movies and other downtown festivities.
Six officers patrol the movie nights each week, she said.
“We want to offer the community events that are welcoming to everyone and for people to enjoy the events we offer,” she said, adding her staff works closely with the police department.
Melissa Carter of Valparaiso came to movie night with her daughters Lauren, 12, and Sarah, 9. They attended several of last year’s movie nights and Carter said the events provide quality family time.
Last year, Lauren said, she saw some older kids misbehaving.
“They would say bad language sometimes around the little kids I’d see,” she said.
St. Aubin and Grennes said their goal is for teens to be welcome downtown but to act respectfully toward others who are there to enjoy movie night, shopping or dining.
“Our downtown is a great environment and we want to keep it that way,” Grennes said. “If you’re down there, we just ask that you act appropriately.”
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
