Belleville police crack down on park rules after officer ‘battered’

After a Belleville police officer was “battered” last Saturday at Citizens Park during a “large gathering” of people, the department announced Thursday that two events scheduled for Saturday at Citizens and Bellevue parks will not be allowed because the organizers do not have permits.

The gathering at Citizens Park “involved reckless driving by bystanders, fights, reports of possible firearms, and an officer being battered,” the department said in a news release posted on its Facebook page.

Acting Police Chief Mark Heffernan said the officer was not injured and one juvenile was arrested in connection with the incident at Citizens Park, 341 Citizens Park Drive on the city’s west side.

Heffernan did not have an official estimate of the size of the gathering officers encountered late Saturday afternoon, but he said it was “substantial.”

“We are taking proactive steps to prevent a similar incident from happening again,” the department’s news release stated.

The department said social media posts have promoted events scheduled for Saturday at Bellevue and Citizens parks.

“These events are not permitted or authorized by the City of Belleville and will not be allowed to take place,” the department said. “Officers will be present in and around city parks to enforce city ordinances and maintain public safety.

“Parents and guardians are reminded that knowingly permitting a minor to engage in conduct that breaks the peace or violates a municipal curfew ordinance may subject them to enforcement under applicable state law and city ordinance.

The department’s statement also includes the text of a city ordinance regarding permits for outdoor events and a state law regarding the supervision of children.

The parks close at dusk. The city also has a curfew ordinance for youths.

Heffernan said the city’s parks will remain open Saturday afternoon for the public to visit.

Here are the curfew hours for youths under 15:

• Between 10 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday.
• Between 10 p.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Sunday.
• Between 9 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, inclusive, and 6 a.m. on the following day.

Curfew hours for youths under 17:

• Between 11 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday.
• Between 11 p.m. Saturday and 6:00 a.m. Sunday.
• Between 10 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, inclusive, and 6 a.m. on the following day.