Fayette County, WV (WOAY) – The recent incident that resulted in two juveniles being banned from Fayetteville Town Park blew up on social media.
It left the community reeling and feeling unsafe for their kids.
I met one-on-one with the Fayetteville Police Department to determine what parents can do.
“Be vigilant of your surroundings, and as a parent, if you have your kids at the park, it’s always important to keep an eye on them and report if you do see anything,” said Lt. Shaun Maynor.
The park incident is concerning to Kenneth Winter, who has seven grandchildren, five of whom regularly frequent the park.
“Sort of scary to think that even though they were just a little bit older kids, they had scissors and scared (the little kids) into cutting their hair and bullying them around,” the Robson resident said. “As you can see, the kids here are screaming and having fun. The last thing they need is to be terrified to come to a public park like this, and not be able to play without looking over their shoulder.”
While what happened at the town park is not a common occurrence, according to the Fayetteville Police, it’s important to talk to your kids about the dangers.
“We shouldn’t worry or be afraid of things happening, but we need to be aware of them,” said Maynor. “And have a plan of action to understand that your kid needs help if something dangerous occurs around them.”
The Fayetteville Police Department received multiple complaints about the incident that happened at the park’s splash pad. The two juveniles have to stay away from the town park to keep the community safe.
Another officer, Corporal Rice, was foot patrolling, community policing, and interacting with kids to mitigate any potential dangers. He believes it was during a shift change when the incident happened.
“Anytime there’s an officer around and you believe you see something that may be dangerous, it’s important to go ahead and let us know, even if it’s something you’re just iffy on,” the lieutenant said. “So we can put a stop to it to ensure everybody’s safety, or at least investigate it to a point where we can determine whether it’s a credible threat or not.”
The juvenile culprits are facing the consequences for not allowing the children to be children and have a carefree summer.
“Glad the police jumped in here and banned them from the park for now,” said Winter. “And hopefully those two have learned their lesson.”
The Fayetteville PD had a good sense of the culprits. The two were not arrested, and no criminal charges were filed. However, they received a notice of trespass stating they are not allowed back at the park, at least until the police can do a complete and thorough investigation.
“Within social media posts, I would avoid dropping any kind of juvenile names or anything like that. I have seen people say some very mean things, and it’s not encouraged,” Maynor said. “Also, falsehoods, half-truths, or outright lies can be dangerous. If you have any information, instead of spreading it online, please contact us.”
Fayetteville Police Department
https://fayettevillewv.gov/departments/police-department
