Melee downtown not the norm, says APD Chief

ALBANY, Ga. — More than an hour after a downtown event went off without a hitch, juveniles began a series of fights that spoiled Saturday evening along Front Street.

“There are events downtown constantly,” said Albany Police Chief John Proctor. “Rarely do any major incidents occur.”

Describing the actions of juveniles he saw on the videos taken by the city’s downtown cameras, Proctor said it looked as though they were playing some form of tag.

One juvenile runs up and touches another then that juvenile takes off after the first one, Proctor said. That behavior could have escalated to a fight, he added.

Despite his belief that violence is unusual in connection with downtown events, Proctor plans to meet with other agency heads such as the downtown manager and code enforcement officials to become more involved in the event-planning process.

“Tactically there may be things we can do better,” Proctor said. “We will have to meet with (event) planners and decide how to better staff them.”

The block party’s sponsor Alfred Hosley, the tax company owner, paid to rent the amphitheater, the Albany Civic Center parking lot and for police to act as security, said Wes Smith, assistant city manager.

“The event was well over when the fights broke out,” Smith said. “By all accounts the event went fine. There were probably other reasons the kids got in a fight.”

Five juveniles ranging in age from 13 to 16 involved in the melee were taken into custody quickly, Proctor said. At least 10 police officers had been acting as security at a block party thrown by SOWEGA Tax Service at Veterans Memorial Park amphitheater.

“The police response took two minutes,” Proctor said at a news conference in the Law Enforcement Center on Oglethorpe Boulevard.

The event ended after 5:30 p.m. leaving about 200 participants to wander off. The call for the juvenile fight came in at 6:40 p.m.

It started across Oglethorpe Boulevard from the amphitheater at Turtle Park, moved to Ray Charles Plaza and finally to Oglethorpe Boulevard at Front Street.

There were no guns or other weapons involved in the melee, Proctor said. There were no indications of gang related activity, he added.

The only reported injury was a female who was injured fell as she ran away from the fight. She was treated by Dougherty County EMS.