What started as an unofficial Senior Skip Day at a South Dallas park ended with undercover officers moving in, a police helicopter circling overhead, and a teenager under arrest on multiple charges.
Dallas police say they disrupted the unsanctioned gathering at Danieldale Park yesterday, in the 500 block of West Wheatland Road, after undercover officers spotted a teen they believed was carrying a firearm. The crowd had swelled to nearly 400 students, and officers ordered everyone to clear out. A department helicopter monitored the scene after a car was seen making repeated laps around the park.
According to WFAA, undercover officers detained the teen and ultimately recovered several firearms, including an AR-style pistol with its serial number obscured. Officers also found marijuana during the stop and cleared the area as a safety move. Authorities said the quick intervention kept the gathering from escalating.
Police identified the suspect as Ziquavious Hughes Bigger. He was booked on charges including unlawful carrying of a weapon, tampering with identification, and possession of marijuana under two ounces. A passenger, Jaquelinn Woods, was charged with possession of marijuana under two ounces, WFAA reports. “The swift and decisive actions of the officers prevented what could have been a devastating incident,” the Dallas Police Department told the outlet in a statement.
How Officers Say They Located The Weapons
Investigators were told that officers had been monitoring the unsanctioned party when undercover personnel saw the suspect with a firearm and moved in to detain him. A police helicopter tracked a vehicle that was making multiple laps around the park before officers ordered all students to leave, according to the Dallas Police Department. After the traffic stop, officers recovered several firearms and took suspects into custody.
Part Of A Wider Pattern
Departments around the country have been tightening enforcement at large, unofficial Senior Skip Day events after a series of rowdy takeovers and weapons seizures. In one recent example, Jacksonville Beach police arrested 13 people and recovered nine firearms during a similar gathering, according to Action News Jax. It is the kind of scene departments say they are trying to prevent with proactive patrols.
Legal Implications
Under Texas law, unlawful carrying of a weapon is covered in Texas Penal Code §46.02. Altering or obscuring a firearm’s serial number can fall under §31.11, which criminalizes tampering with identification numbers when identifying marks have been changed or removed. Prosecutors will decide which specific statutes to charge as the case moves through the courts.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and did not immediately release booking information or court dates for those arrested. Anyone with video or information from the park was asked to contact the department’s tip line or Crime Stoppers.
