Police Break Up Terrace Sports Crowd with Pepper Balls
The sports complex was hosting a party for teens that got out of hand.
A dance party for teens at Terrace Sports got out of hand Sunday night when fights broke out in the parking lot and police used pepper balls to disburse the crowd.
Temple Terrace Police received a call from Terrace Sports about a disturbance in the parking lot around 10:20 p.m., according to Michael Dunn, public information officer for the city of Temple Terrace.
According to an ABC Action News story, a rumor about a possible fight had been posted on Facebook. Terrace Sports was expecting about 300 teens, but 600 showed up to the party.
When officers arrived, they saw about 150 people in the parking lot with and lots of people fighting, Dunn said. About 450 people were inside the building, and the manager asked police to help shut the event down.
“Police began breaking up the fights and directing people to leave,” Dunn wrote in an email. “Because of the number of people involved, police called for backup from Tampa Police Department.”
When Tampa officers arrived, they shot pepper balls (pellets with a pepper spray type substance inside) onto the ground to make the crowd disburse, Dunn said. Some people went across the street to Walgreens and CVS, others went to the Publix/K-Mart parking lot.
“About that time, police heard gunshots in the vicinity of 50th Street and Busch Boulevard,” Dunn wrote. “That’s in Tampa, so TPD went to that area to check it out. TTPD was not involved in any incidents involving gunfire.”
Temple Terrace police made no arrests and no injuries were reported, according to Dunn.
Stay with Temple Terrace Patch for updates.
Richard Diaz
9:42 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
What's the capacity of this building? This Barney Fife department can't even enforce the golf cart laws.
Carol Dell
10:38 am on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
I'm not at all concerned about the actions of the Temple Terrace Police Department or the Tampa Police Depertment. I am concerned with the Terrace Sports facility.
1) What is the capacity of the facility? It is reported that there were 450 patrons inside the building. That seems like an awfully lot of teenagers!! And they planned to do their own security!!!!!???!!!
2) The Terrace Sports states that patrons under 18 are not allowed without adult supervision...how did all these teenagers get into the "party" in the first place?
Another concern I have is: Who is Johnny Compton? I saw him on the Action News last night and he is reported saying the he likes being a part of the action, and is "active in neighborhood patrol programs with his police department, and is willing to help officers whenever they need it." Which Police Department does he work with? It this a neighborhood watch type of situation?
Bottom line: Thank goodness no one was seriously injured!!!
And, again, bad publicity for our city!!!
Read more: http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/tampa-police-launch-pepper-balls-into-raucous-crowd-of-teenagers-at-temple-terrace-bowling-alley#ixzz1zZMzIfN2
Carol Dell
Ashley Reams
12:44 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
A comment had to be deleted from this story because it violated Patch's Terms of Use. Please review the terms before commenting: http://templeterrace.patch.com/terms. Patch encourages commenting, but, in general, please treat others as you’d like to be treated.
Quentin
9:48 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
OK maybe RICHARD they don't like you because of you're a shortened version of your name Not Richard but........ (does that pass the Ashley Reams political correctness test?)
I have had good luck with TTPD and see them a lot in my neighborhood I moved here because of the emergency services. If you do not like them maybe it is because you are a Richard
Richard Diaz
11:54 pm on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Quentin I'm willing to post what is the truth and my last name