At the end of last month, a group of children – their ages spanning from just 6 years old to 15 – broke into and extensively vandalized Molloy's on the Green, a popular event venue in Greenhills, Ohio. According to the Greenhills Police Department, the juvenile suspects were from the local area, ranging from six to fifteen years old, and embarked on a spree of destruction on July 31, as reported by LOCAL12.
Following the incident, authorities identified multiple youths who allegedly broke pictures and light fixtures and overturned tables and chairs, among other acts of vandalism. Charged after the damage was assessed, two 12-year-olds and an 11-year-old faced breaking and entering allegations, while a 15-year-old got tagged with criminal trespass, as per FOX19. It was the six-year-old and two nine-year-olds involved in the incident, being too young for the weight of criminal charges, were not charged and released to their parents.
Photographs showcasing the aftermath at Molloy’s on the Green were shared by the Greenhills Police, revealing shattered windows, broken décor, and an interior turned upside down. With a history as a wedding venue and community hub, the building’s destruction hit a nerve among locals. "It’s been wedding venues, it’s been a building that was supported for the golf course that used to be right next door. It’s been a lot of things, so the community is really upset about what happened," Greenhills Police Sergeant Carl Holbrook lamented in a statement obtained by FOX19.
While the damage toll continues being pieced together by club management, authorities expressed their concern over the incident. "It’s an unfortunate circumstance, you hate to see kids doing stuff like this," Sgt. Carl Holbrook, Greenhills police, told FOX19, adding that "It is a lot of damage, it’s not kids being kids, it was beyond that and it’s just truly, truly a sad situation." This sentiment underscores the surprising severity of the actions undertaken by what may seem, on the surface, just a band of rowdy children.
All the juveniles charged have been released to their guardians, pending court dates in Hamilton County Juvenile Court, as stated in a report by WCPO.
