07-07-2025
Youngstown police early Sunday grapple with 2 large crowds causing havoc
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — Reports said city police early Sunday were faced with two large crowds that tied up every car on the road.
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Reports said a large crowd in the Commerce Street parking lot of the Hookah Lounge about 2:15 a.m. blocked the entire lot. People were drinking, dancing on cars and there were at least two fights, reports said.
Reports said nearly every car in the city was needed to control that crowd, and when the crowd was broken up, it reformed downtown.
About 2:35 a.m., reports said every car was needed for another large crowd on South Avenue between Dickson and Cameron avenues where a large crowd from a nearby bar, the Local Celebrity, blocked parking lots, sidewalks and streets before moving to a nearby gas station, where they 'filled the lot to capacity, blast music from their vehicles, dance in the parking lot and on top of their vehicles while filming themselves and each other while they disturb the peace of anyone who might be in nearby homes, trying to sleep.'
Reports said this is a 'regular occurrence' and that officers had a similar situation the evening before. Additionally, cars were parked on sidewalks and illegally parked on the street, blocking traffic on South Avenue, reports said.
Two people were issued citations for fourth-degree misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges for walking in the street and ignoring requests to walk on the sidewalk.
Also, reports said, several people who were fighting were sprayed with pepper spray.
A message was left with city spokesman Andy Resnick asking if the department will have a strategy in the future to deal with large crowds.
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