A busy Saturday for Mount Pleasant police! Five separate incidents, including a fight at a park
MOUNT PLEASANT (WITI) -- Police in Mount Pleasant were busy Saturday, September 13th -- responding to five separate incidents, including a fight at a park in which two people had to be arrested.
It started just before 11:30 a.m. with a crash occurring near Spring Street and Airline Road.
Police say an SUV with three occupants from the Racine area was traveling eastbound on Spring Street at Airline Road. Police say a vehicle following the SUV rear-ended the SUV.
Police say three people in the SUV were injured, and they were treated at the scene.
The driver of the vehicle wasn't injured. That driver received citations for not having a valid driver's license, not having insurance, not having the vehicle registered, and following too closely.
Shortly before 1:15 p.m., police were dispatched to the area of Durand Avenue and Pritchard Drive for a crash involving three vehicles. No one was injured -- but one of the vehicles had to be towed from the scene.
Just before 2:00 p.m., police were on the scene of another crash -- occurring near S. Green Bay Road and Kinzie Avenue. Police say this was a hit-and-run crash.
Police say a vehicle was headed northbound on S. Green Bay Road when a second vehicle, being driven westbound on Kinzie Avenue pulled into the path of the northbound vehicle. The vehicles collided in the intersection.
Police say the westbound vehicle fled the scene -- leaving the front bumper and headlight assembly at the scene. This vehicle is described as a mid-90s white Chevrolet Lumina.
Police say the driver of the northbound vehicle complained of a minor injury. That driver wasn't taken to the hospital.
It was just after 3:30 p.m. when police were dispatched to Haban Park on Borgart Road. Police received several calls of parents fighting in the overflow parking lot at the park -- with callers reporting about 30 people involved.
"Escalated is not even the right word to use. It's like a movie where I want to rewind to make sure I saw what I saw," a witness said.
Police say numerous football games were going on throughout the day at the park.
"From what I heard there was a lot of jawing going back and forth between the teams and parents and coaches yelling at players on other teams," a witness said.
As officers were en route to the park, they learned that a vehicle had struck a pedestrian in the parking lot -- fleeing the scene.
Police say their initial investigation revealed that an altercation had occurred between a 17-year-old boy and a 40-year-old parent -- with the 17-year-old striking the 40-year-old in the face. Police say the teenager fled the scene, but was taken into custody a short time later. The 40-year-old parent was taken to the hospital for an injury to the face and back pain. He was treated and released.
Police then learned that a second altercation had taken place at the park -- with a 31-year-old man striking a 15-year-old boy in the face. Police say the 31-year-old man got into his vehicle and attempted to flee. That's when police say the 31-year-old man collided with a parked vehicle -- causing minor damage.
Then, police say the 31-year-old driver collided with a 40-year-old pedestrian -- before fleeing the scene.
"What I saw was a guy jump into his car -- get out, hit a car trying to get out, people flying out of the way. What comes to me is like the running of the bulls -- where everyone gets out of the way for the bulls. The car hit someone I know personally, and the guy went flying in the air. Luckily he is a little banged up but he is okay," Mark Towne said.
That 31-year-old man later turned himself in to police.
Police say the 15-year-old received an injury to his head -- and he sought treatment with his parents.
Police say an investigation has revealed the incidents in the park on Saturday were the result of a rivalry that had brewed during the football game between coaches, parents and players.
"It's a kids' game. You're here for the kids, and you have parents getting in the middle of it. It's sad," a witness said.
Police arrested the 17-year-old boy and the 31-year-old man. The 17-year-old was arrested on charges of battery and disorderly conduct. The 31-year-old was arrested on charges of first degree recklessly endangering safety, physical abuse of a child, disorderly conduct -- and traffic charges of operating without a valid driver's license, hit-and-run causing injury, and reckless driving.
Both were taken to the Racine County Jail on these charges. They have since posted bail.
The final incident occurred just before 4:15 p.m.
Police say a minivan driven by a 29-year-old Racine woman collided with a utility pole.
Wires were downed across Newman Road, and several nearby homes were without power.
Police say an officer driving by witnessed the crash.
Police say the 29-year-old driver told officers she fell asleep at the wheel. Police say the driver crossed the center line and almost collided with an oncoming vehicle -- then colliding with the utility pole head-on, shearing it off at the base.
The driver -- the lone occupant of the vehicle, wasn't injured. That driver was cited for operating a motor vehicle after license suspension and operating left of the center line.
Police had to block Newman Road from Woodland Hills Drive to Westmore Drive until around 10:00 p.m. due to downed power lines and the unstable utility pole.