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Vandalism, fighting plague Casey Park  Share
Vandalism and fighting for cash in Fairview Park are being targeted by Casey Police with stepped up patrols. Police Chief Mark Jenkins said recurring vandalism to light fixtures, outlets and tables, as well as graffiti, has been a problem for some time but has worsened in the last month. Much of the damage has occurred at the bandstand and the Lions Club Shelter. After seeing bicycles and skateboards being used on the bandstand steps, Ed Richardson, Lions Club member, posted a sign prohibiting bicycling and skateboarding on the bandstand. It was gone the next day. Last week the Lions Club Shelter was again victimized when all light fixtures and outlets were broken. Moe Wimbley, city councilman, replaced them all on Tuesday, Sept. 1. By Wednesday morning, they were busted again, and the lock was taken from the fuse box. Chief Jenkins immediately issued a mandate to his department, ''From this point forward, until you hear further, we are to identify and remove all kids from the shelter and the bandstand. Feel free to explain why. If anybody has any questions or complaints, I will be glad to talk with them.'' He explained later that this action will continue until after the Popcorn Festival.
Jenkins said the police have an idea of who the kids are, a group of 15 to 20 persons, ranging in age from 12 to 24, who are congregating in the park on a regular basis. ''We got a call to the park at 8 p.m. on Wednesday (Sept. 2), that there was a fight in progress,'' Jenkins said. Officer Kelsey Washburn arrived to find two young men, shirtless and bloodied, and a crowd of onlookers egging them on. The youth indicated they were fighting ''for fun.'' Officer Washburn broke up the group and asked them to leave the park. Her instructions were met with lewd remarks and gestures. Chief Jenkins said in a case such as this, battery charges cannot be filed, as neither party would be willing to file them. He said at the very least, charges of disorderly conduct could be brought against them. Thursday morning, a Casey-Westfield High School faculty member then relayed a conversation overheard between two female students, as one explained to the other she would not be returning to the park that night because her face was still sore from the previous night. ''We learned that a group of kids was staging fights for money,'' Chief Jenkins said. ''A fight club had formed.'' He attributes some of this behavior to be the result of the popular Brad Pitt movie, ''Fight Club'' and the more recent Ultimate Fighting Championship. ''They may be emulating their heroes,'' he said. ''We know who some of these kids are and we want to sit down with them,'' Chief Jenkins said. ''There have been plans to move the skateboard equipment for months. We don't know that this group is necessarily skateboarders, but some of them have been seen skateboarding. Before that park can materialize, we have to set ground rules.'' Jenkins said, ''We have such a nice park and there will be a walking track installed, plus other improvements. There have to be certain rules and everyone must comply or be banned.'' Chief Jenkins asks residents who witness suspicious or disturbing behavior, to call the police department. ''And as a parent, be aware,'' he said. ''This has been reported and parents should be concerned.'' Marcy Shonk is a staff reporter for the Casey Reporter.
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