Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced that she is imposing a “limited juvenile curfew” on the city that will last until November 5, due to “weeks of erratic behavior by minors.”
IN mail On Channel X, Bowser explained that the juvenile curfew, which will apply to those 18 and under, will be in effect from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am until November 5th. Bowser's statement came after hundreds of teenagers in the D.C. Navy Yard area got into an altercation on Friday and were seen blocking streets.
“We are declaring a limited curfew for minors in Washington, D.C.,” Bowser said. “Effective immediately, a curfew will be imposed on all minors under the age of 18 from 11:00 pm to 6:00 am, which will last until November 5.”
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) explained that minors began gathering near the Navy Yard subway station around 7:30 p.m., and within half an hour, “several hundred people” had gathered there, Fox5DC reported. reported. MPD also said the gathering of teenagers “started out peacefully but quickly escalated as fights broke out and groups began interfering with traffic.”:
Police said the gathering started peacefully but quickly escalated when fights broke out and groups began obstructing traffic and refusing orders to remain on sidewalks. Additional MPD officers and partner agencies, including Metro Transit Police, U.S. Capitol Police, the National Guard and members of the Federal Task Force responded to help restore order.
Police reportedly cleared the park around 11 p.m. and directed numerous minors toward the metro station. MPD maintained an active presence throughout the night to prevent further unrest.
The incident led to the arrests of four teenagers from the District of Columbia and an 18-year-old from Maryland, MPD said.
IN mail on X, MPD explained that as a result of Bowser's order enforcing a juvenile curfew in locations such as the U Street Corridor, Banneker Recreation Center, Navy Yard and Union Station, juvenile curfews will go into effect this evening.
In a press release from MPD Police Chief Pamela A. Smith. expressed that “the behavior exhibited at the Navy Yard last night is unacceptable,” adding that MPD's “law enforcement partners” will be ordered to increase their presence to prevent a similar incident from happening again.
“The behavior exhibited at the Navy Yard last night is unacceptable, and MPD and our law enforcement partners will have an increased presence tonight to ensure it does not happen again,” Smith said. “This group chose not to attend any of the events hosted by MPD or our D.C. partners and instead gathered in this manner.”
