4 Juveniles Charged In Playscape Fire At Park In Wallingford: Police

WALLINGFORD, CT — Four juveniles have been arrested in connection with the fire that destroyed the playscape at Doolittle Park in October, according to police.

Police responded to Doolittle Park at 80 South Elm St. around 11 p.m. on Oct. 29 to investigate a “suspicious fire” and found the playscape fully engulfed in flames, according to Sgt. Stephen Jaques.

Jaques said small fires were also started on a basketball court and in a nearby porta-potty. The Wallingford Fire Marshal determined that the fires were intentionally set, according to Jaques.

Four male juveniles, who are all town residents, were arrested following a lengthy investigation, Jaques said. They were each charged with first-degree criminal mischief and conspiracy to commit first-degree criminal mischief. They were all assigned a court date in February at Superior Court of Juvenile Matters in New Haven.

Jaques said the total cost to repair the playground will be around $69,000. The playground replacement is on the agenda for the Wallingford Town Council meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 14).

Wallingford Police Chief John Ventura said issues with juvenile behavior in town have increased “165 percent” from this period last year. The project for a surveillance system at Doolittle Park has gone out to bid and closes on March 1, according to Ventura.

Read the full statement from Ventura regarding juvenile behavior in town below:

The arrest of the juveniles responsible for the destruction of the playscape puts some closure on the events of last year at Doolittle Park. There is an open bid for a surveillance system at Doolittle which closes on March 1st

We are confident that the company that is awarded the bid will provide the system we need to ensure the safety of our community while protecting Town property.

Unfortunately, the issues with juvenile behavior in Town have not gone away but have increased 165 percent from this period last year. We have been speaking with merchants in the Center Street and Simpson Court areas along with the Wallingford Public Library who have been inundated with juveniles who are causing issues for their establishments. Complaints of theft, inappropriate behaviors, trespassing, vaping, and bicycles being used in a menacing manner both on and off the roadway are just a few of the complaints that have been received by this agency. Enforcement efforts by the Patrol Division have been increased and these efforts have been met with resistance by the juveniles we have been dealing with who continually disrespect the officers assigned to address the issues.

In discussions with the Law Department and the Department of Youth and Social Services, we are looking to implement some initiatives to address these negative behaviors. A bicycle ordinance is being constructed to allow officers more enforcement options when dealing with the juveniles who constantly create traffic issues by riding in the middle of the roadway often in a dangerous manner. Also in coordination with Youth and Social Services, we have formed the Wallingford Juvenile Diversion Program which mirrors the Juvenile Review Board model to address the nuisance issues we are encountering in a formal process requiring both the parent and child to appear to speak directly to the negative behaviors.

I understand the frustration of our business community and the citizens of this Town and the Wallingford Police Department is committed to addressing these juvenile issues and will do everything we can to curb the behaviors that have been plaguing the hardworking business owners who have already been through so much over the last three years.