DEARBORN HEIGHTS (WWJ) -- The Dearborn Heights Police Department is asking parents to know where their children are and what they're doing after authorities thwarted a "teen takeover" attempt over the weekend.
According to police, this happened as families gathered at the Spirit Festival, described by the city as one of Dearborn Heights’ oldest community and family-oriented traditions. But police said, in a statement, "They picked the wrong city."
Several arrests were made Sunday night, and police detained several people as officers cleared the area.
“We do not tolerate this behavior in Dearborn Heights,” said Police Chief Michael Guzowski, in a statement. “My officers were on top of this from the first moment, and we will continue to respond with the same speed and force every time.”
Officers from several other departments as well as Wayne County Sheriff's deputies and Michigan State Police troopers helped secure the area, "shutting the situation down before it could escalate," the Dearborn Heights PD said, adding:
"Teen takeover attempts have been happening in cities across the country. Dearborn Heights is not unique in being targeted, but we will not tolerate it."
"Teen takeover" refera to a nationwide trend where large groups of adolescents use social media to coordinate massive, unpermitted gatherings at specific public spaces like downtown districts, malls, or parks.
While many participants simply look to socialize, the sheer scale of these flash-mob-style events has frequently overwhelmed local law enforcement and escalated into traffic disruptions, property damage, and instances of violence.
Police did not immediately release any information about what trouble the teens were causing or what, exactly, led to the arrests in this particular case.
As we head into the summer, Dearborn Heights Police are asking parents to keep a closer eye on in their teens.
"To the parents of these teens: know where your children are and what they are doing. The families at Spirit Festival came to enjoy a safe community event, and we need parents to do their part to keep it that way," the department said.
