Action demanded after 'kids' allegedly attack disabled man at Danvers Park

Local News

“These kids can’t do what they do to people.”

Danvers City Hall. David L. Ryan / The Boston Globe

Danvers residents are fed up with “thug” teenagers terrorizing their downtown by weaving into traffic, screaming, trespassing on private property and causing mayhem near businesses. In one recent case, a group of teenagers allegedly attacked a disabled man in a Danvers park, sending him to the hospital.

At a Danvers Select Board meeting Tuesday evening, residents delivered a clear message: They called the police, but the police took no action. And now residents want a solution.

“These kids are a bunch of thugs,” said Antoinette Anderson, the mother of the disabled man the teens allegedly attacked.

Anderson said that in the past, teens have given him the finger and yelled at him. Then: “They almost killed my son, who wouldn’t hurt a flea. I’ve had enough, she said, putting her hand to her forehead. “I want something done about them.”

Anderson added: “I have already hired a lawyer and I will sue him for every penny he makes. »

His son, Chris Anderson, also pleaded with the special committee to do something.

“I was very afraid of these kids,” Chris Anderson told the board. “It breaks my heart every day and I can’t sleep at night. It’s hard. Can you do more for me, please?

Select committee chairman Daniel Bennett said: “It’s clear there is work to be done. » He added that the police chief would come and speak to the committee next month about his plans to handle the situation.

Special committee member Maureen Bernard apologized to Chris Anderson, saying the incident should never have happened.

“These kids can’t do what they do to people,” she said. “We need to take control.”

Outgoing City Manager Steve Bartha stressed that the police department knows what’s going on. Police Chief James Lovell did not attend Tuesday’s meeting due to a conflict.

“I don’t want anyone to think that no action was taken,” Bartha said. The police department will “do what is within the law to keep people safe.”

The chief declined to comment Wednesday on the trend of such incidents in Danvers. He noted the incident in Plains Park remains under investigation. Police have not released the name of the victim or suspect.

Resident Rick Bettencourt wants a downtown improvement committee to return to the city. When he opened his business in 2005, he was actively involved in communicating with the Select Board and police about what was happening downtown.

But that committee has since disbanded, and as a result, leaders have fallen behind in solving downtown’s problems, he said.

“I’m disgusted at what downtown Danvers looks like,” Bettencourt said at the meeting. “I hope you now find a way to work closely with the police to stop these children from terrorizing.”

A few residents explained how the teenagers, often seen “carrying around” and “hooting and hollering”, can get away with it without any repercussions.

Select committee member Michael Dean said he drafted a proposal for the police department to return to community policing. He hopes to establish a paper trail against the perpetrators of these acts and attract more police officers to the streets.

“Public safety must be the number one priority,” Dean said. “If we can’t take care of one person, then we don’t take care of anyone. »

Select board member Dutrochet “Dee” Djoko agreed.

“This case has gone on for too long and it simply has to stop,” Djoko said. “Our children deserve to feel safe, and so do we. No one should worry when walking down the street. This is unacceptable.

He added: “There is a difference between children being children and criminals. We must take it seriously.