A Sunday night trip to Bexley Park turned hectic when multiple fights broke out among groups of teenagers, prompting South Euclid police to shut the place down and clear everyone out. Officers moved on the park’s northwest corner, using pepperball munitions to break up the clashes. Several teens were detained at the scene and later released to their parents, and authorities reported no injuries.
South Euclid police first got a call at 6:42 p.m. about a group of teens talking about fighting. By 7:21 p.m., those threats had turned into multiple active fights in the northwest corner of the park, according to Cleveland 19 News. The outlet reports that officers from University Heights, Cleveland Heights, and Lyndhurst, along with the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office and Metroparks police, were called in to help with crowd control, and the park was closed so officers could contain the situation. A nearby Walmart also alerted staff that an estimated 20 to 30 teens had run through the store before security removed them, the station notes.
Where It Happened
Bexley Park, listed at 1630 Wrenford Road, is billed as South Euclid’s most visited park, home to ballfields, an outdoor pool and a large playground, according to the City of South Euclid. The closest big box retailer is the Walmart Supercenter at 1868 Warrensville Center Road, per Walmart's store listing.
City Moves And Recent Park Rules
This latest disturbance comes on the heels of new temporary rules at Bexley Park and Quarry Park North that ban facial coverings and oversized bags, a policy shift city officials say stems from a separate incident in April. Recent masks and big bags ban coverage notes that South Euclid has boosted security at the park, installed cameras, and posted temporary signs while the city studies how the changes are working.
What Police And Neighbors Said
South Euclid police said several teenagers were detained during the response and later picked up by their parents, and the park remained closed while officers from neighboring departments assisted at the scene. No injuries were reported. Staff at the nearby Walmart removed teens from the store as officers worked to clear the wider area, according to Cleveland 19 News.
