HEMET: Skateboarding violation leads to violent confrontation with police

Ricardo Ruelas of Hemet News contributed to this report.

More than a dozen patrol officers including two motor officers, Gang Task Force officers, and School Resource Officers responded to the incident. Ricardo Ruelas photo

HEMET – Numerous officers converged on Oltman Park near Cornflower Street and Eaton Avenue in Hemet after a juvenile became involved in a physical altercation with a Hemet police officer. Oltman Park is located across the street from Rancho Viejo Middle School and southeast of Tahquitz High School.

A Hemet police officer stopped at the park shortly after 2:30 p.m., when he observed a large group of juveniles skating and congregating at the park. The officer stopped to check on the juveniles to make sure no crimes were being committed.

When the officer addressed a group of juveniles and young adults who were skateboarding and advised them that skating was not allowed at the park, several high school-aged teens began arguing with and cursing at the officer. Several of the minors became increasingly confrontational with the officer and refused to obey his request that they not skate in prohibited areas.

A subject believed to be a juvenile was arrested after the confrontation. Yessenia Jimenez photo

As the incident continued to escalate, juveniles were caught on film cursing at the officers, threatening them, taunting them, and in at least one case violently resisting officer’s attempts to calm the situation and bring the growing crowd under control.

According to witnesses at the scene, two of the minors became involved in a physical confrontation with the officer, causing him to put out a priority call for back up and assistance.

As the crowd of angry juveniles grew and the situation became more volatile, more officers continued to converge on the area; at one point swelling to over a dozen patrol vehicles, two motor officers, Gang Task Force officers, School Resource Officers, and other officials.

Officers detained several juveniles during the incident. Of six juveniles who were detained, five were later released with tickets. The juvenile who was involved in the violent confrontation with officers was transported to the Hemet Police Station to be picked up by his parents.

While the incident was still unfolding many citizens took to social media, beginning an angry online debate. Some decried the actions of the minors while others felt the officers resources would be better served fighting “real” crimes rather than “harassing kids who are bored and just trying to have fun.”

Jennifer Pittman Wills agreed with the actions and response of the police officers.

Signs such as this one are located throughout Oltmon Park. Ricardo Ruelas photo

“I live on this street,” Wills wrote on a Hemet News post about the incident. “Every day we have kids from Tahquitz and Rancho Viejo, cussing and yelling at police officers as they patrol by.”

“A lot of these kids have zero respect for ANY adult, let alone a police officer,” Wills commented.

“I personally feel it’s time these kids start learning how to RESPECT adults in general!! If it was one of my kids that got mouthy or physical with a police officer, you can bet that there would be much more punishment after I had to pick them up from the police station,” Wills wrote.

Chad Emery voiced a different opinion, writing, “Just let them skate. Skateboarding is not a crime.”

“Until Hemet can get there (act) together and get with the program that most cities have and build a skate park for them to skate at there should be no enforcement of this so called law,” Emery continued. “I would rather have them skating then going around town and causing trouble or damage to private property.”

Officers congregate at the scene while waiting for the crowd of juveniles and young adults to disperse. Ricardo Ruelas photo

“The police resources would be better spent on preventing drug use and theft in the city rather then worry about some kids skateboarding in a park,” Emery opined. “Telling kids not to skateboard or roller skate in a park is lame. What are parks for? Watching grass grow? They are for activity like sports and skateboarding is a sport.”

While most who commented supported the actions of the officers, several called for the City of Hemet to provide a safe alternative for juveniles, such as opening a skate park again or providing an area where skate boarding is allowed.

“Until then, where are our kids supposed to go?” Jim Joradine asked. “What are our kids supposed to do to stay out of trouble? What resources are available to them?”

Summing up what most people were expressing in their comments, Colin Quayle wrote, “This isn’t about the skateboarding at all. They were asked by an officer to stop skating while school was getting out. They chose not to and got in a physical altercation with a police officer.”

Quayle continued, “Yes skateboarding is a small crime but a complete and utter lack of respect for law enforcement over a simple request – in what alternate reality is that okay?”

Click any image to open full-size gallery.

Officers flooded into the area after an officer requested assistance. Ricardo Ruelas photo

A minor is detained at the scene after the altercation. He was later cited and released. Ricardo Ruelas photo

Numerous officers converged on the scene after an officer advised of a physical altercation. Ricardo Ruelas photo

Officers rove through the park as crowds of juveniles and young adults left the area. Ricardo Ruelas photo

 

City of Hemet Code of Ordinances regarding skateboard use.

 

ARTICLE III §53-17. – Regulations

 

(a) Reckless operation prohibited. No person shall sit, ride, stand upon, propel or drive a skateboard in disregard of the safety of persons or property.
(b) Operation on public place prohibited without permit. Skateboarding is prohibited in all public places unless permitted and posted by owning public entity. However, skateboards may be used as a mode of transport on public streets and sidewalks, subject to compliance with all local and state traffic safety laws.
(c) Yield right-of-way. The rider or operator of a skateboard upon a sidewalk or upon a roadway of a highway in the city shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians, animals, wheelchairs, and motor vehicles.
(d) Riding on right-hand side of roadway. The rider or operator of a skateboard upon a roadway or a highway in the city shall keep as close to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway as possible.
(e) Riding at night prohibited. No person shall sit, ride, stand upon, propel or drive a skateboard upon a roadway or a highway in the city during the period between sunset and sunrise unless the individual has reflective devices on their body and skateboard such that they are clearly visible in the dark.
(f) Riding on private property. No person shall sit, ride, stand upon, propel or drive a skateboard on privately-owned land or property unless such property is designated for vehicular or pedestrian travel or unless such operation or driving of skateboards has been permitted by the person in lawful occupancy or possession of the property.
(g) Use of incline devices prohibited. No person shall construct, establish, maintain, use, or place a ramp or other incline device to be used for skateboarding upon any public sidewalk or roadway or a highway in the City.

(Ord. No. 1687 § 2, 7-8-03; Ord. No. 1780, § 4(Exh. C), 5-22-07)

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.