GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — According to the Grand Rapids Police Department, five people were arrested Saturday night in Downtown Grand Rapids.
They say the department received report around 9:00 p.m. of a disturbance at Studio Park. Upon arriving to the scene, they found a crowd of an estimated 70 to 100 "delinquent juveniles" and young adults in the area.
One of the juveniles allegedly attempted to disarm an officer by taking his taser, initiating an altercation. Police say another member of the crowd attempted to assist the suspect. Both juveniles were arrested, and the group temporarily dispersed.
They then regrouped in front of the Van Andel Arena, causing property damage to the surrounding area. GRPD says all available units responded to the incident, as well as officers inside the arena, which was hosting a Quinn XCII concert. Three more arrests were made as a result.
The officers gave the individuals many warnings, but they allegedly didn't stop their behavior, nor did they leave.
Those arrested were as young as 16 and in their 20s, as well.
Video from the scene shows police presence into the early morning. No injuries to suspects or officers have been reported, and the extent of the damage done to the area is not known at this time.
Chief Eric Winstrom says some in the crowd had brightly-colored, gel blaster type guns which can be confused for the real thing.
"I've recovered firearms that are brightly-colored to look like child toys so every police officer is going to respond to an incident when somebody's armed with what looks like a handgun in a way that protects the officer and the safety of those around them," said Winstrom.
This is the latest incident in a string of crimes that have led to overnight closures of the Blue Bridge during the summer. It's now closed to the public between 12-6a.m. on weekends.
Winstrom says some of his officers recognized the same faces from the Blue Bridge party from last weekend which ended up in a vehicle being hit by gunfire nearby.
Winstrom hopes the arrests of the five individuals sends the message they aren't going to put up with this type of behavior, no matter if they're happening on the Blue Bridge or elsewhere.
"If the activities you're engaging in are disrupting to peopleor blocking traffic, if you're fighting or creating a dangerous environment for people, carrying illegal weapons. It's that sort of behavior we aren't going to tolerate it. We are going to take enforcement action."
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