A 9-year-old boy was reportedly hit and stomped on during an altercation at Oakland Square Park in Bellefontaine on Tuesday night, according to police. The confrontation, which began with a sticky prank involving a marshmallow-like substance, escalated into a beating that sent the boy to the emergency room before he was cleared for discharge.
Bellefontaine’s recreation district lists the location as Oakland Square / Powell Park, at 230 Oakland Square. The alternate name offers a local geographic reference as investigators seek people who may have been at the park.
Police received a report about the incident at approximately 7:34 p.m. on October 20, according to Dayton 24/7 Now. Investigators said the confrontation started when a juvenile, later described in the police report as 13 years old, smeared a marshmallow-like substance on the back of the 9-year-old's head. The 9-year-old allegedly retaliated by smearing the substance back on the older boy, police said.
From there, the situation turned physical. Police said the 13-year-old hit the 9-year-old several times, knocked him to the ground and then stomped on the side of his head before leaving the park. The younger boy was taken to the emergency department at a local hospital, where he was evaluated by medical staff and cleared for discharge the same evening.
No Visible Injuries, But Investigation Continues
Despite the severity of the alleged attack, police reported no visible injuries on the boy and said he did not lose consciousness during the incident, per the same account. The Bellefontaine Police Department said it is continuing to investigate what happened at the park.
Investigators are now working to identify and follow up with potential witnesses, and they are looking into surveillance cameras near the park, the station's report notes. School resource officers have also been notified about the incident as the inquiry moves forward.
What Remains Unknown
Key details about the case have not been made public. It has not been established whether either juvenile has been identified by name, arrested, or cited, and the outcome of the department's witness follow-up has not been disclosed.
Ohio law gives juvenile courts original jurisdiction over children alleged to be delinquent, and the Logan County Juvenile Division handles delinquency matters involving felonies and misdemeanors. State rules also bar public use of juvenile court records except for appeals or when authorized by court order or statute. That framework can limit what case details become publicly accessible if an allegation is referred to court. Ohio’s juvenile procedure rules set out that restriction.
For now, the case remains open, with police continuing to piece together what happened at Oakland Square Park and who else may have witnessed the altercation.
