rough kids at a public park/playground--call the police?

[Anonymous]

The cool kids are what your DD calls the same kids you call dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:omg I can’t believe this is happening in Bethesda

probably because it's not.

NP. It likely is.

I used to go there years ago when DS was 2-3 years old (he's now in college) and even then, teens smoking, drinking (yes, in the daytime on a weekend or in the evening pre-dusk) were hanging out in the little covered pavilion on the property (don't know if it's still there or not, as I said it's been years since I was on the property, though drive by). We would make an afternoon or early of shopping at B&N, eating at Rio Grandes, and then go to the park playground. The playground at the time was not fenced in or really nice, it's since been renovated, so even in the midst of DT Bethesda traffic, people and all, it could be kind of empty on the grounds. Have to say that it sometimes made me uncomfortable as an adult with a toddler (we certainly did not know the teens) and didn't go there that much after a few times.

[Anonymous]

your 16 year old goes to playgrounds?

[Anonymous]

Lots to unpack in this thread. OP, call the police and give us an update.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your sixteen year old daughter hanging out and fighting at a park for little children is one of the rough kids, OP. The level of credulity to think your kid is so innocent she has no idea who jumped her or why, but also so determined to hang around kids whose names she doesn't know and who occasionally beat her up, is pretty funny.

They're going there to vape/smoke pot/drink/hook up where their parents can't see, and Larla absolutely is one of "them".

Sorry, Mom. This poster is spot on. She is telling you what you want to hear – not her fault, it was other bad kids. It’s going to ALWAYS be other bad kids unless you wise up quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:omg I can’t believe this is happening in Bethesda

probably because it's not.

NP. It likely is.

I used to go there years ago when DS was 2-3 years old (he's now in college) and even then, teens smoking, drinking (yes, in the daytime on a weekend or in the evening pre-dusk) were hanging out in the little covered pavilion on the property (don't know if it's still there or not, as I said it's been years since I was on the property, though drive by). We would make an afternoon or early of shopping at B&N, eating at Rio Grandes, and then go to the park playground. The playground at the time was not fenced in or really nice, it's since been renovated, so even in the midst of DT Bethesda traffic, people and all, it could be kind of empty on the grounds. Have to say that it sometimes made me uncomfortable as an adult with a toddler (we certainly did not know the teens) and didn't go there that much after a few times.

Yeah, I’m sure teens hang out there and smoke and whatever! But they don’t randomly assault innocent little girls who are just reading on a bench. OP’s daughter IS these kids (no shade, I’m sure she’s great). When something happens she can’t avoid her mom knowing about, like her broken glasses, she lies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your sixteen year old daughter hanging out and fighting at a park for little children is one of the rough kids, OP. The level of credulity to think your kid is so innocent she has no idea who jumped her or why, but also so determined to hang around kids whose names she doesn't know and who occasionally beat her up, is pretty funny.

They're going there to vape/smoke pot/drink/hook up where their parents can't see, and Larla absolutely is one of "them".

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your sixteen year old daughter hanging out and fighting at a park for little children is one of the rough kids, OP. The level of credulity to think your kid is so innocent she has no idea who jumped her or why, but also so determined to hang around kids whose names she doesn't know and who occasionally beat her up, is pretty funny.

They're going there to vape/smoke pot/drink/hook up where their parents can't see, and Larla absolutely is one of "them".

I'm sorry OP, but this.

There is no way that three separate times your child was violently attacked for no reason by random kids she doesn't know. Does that sound like a credible story to you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:omg I can’t believe this is happening in Bethesda

probably because it's not.

NP. It likely is.

I used to go there years ago when DS was 2-3 years old (he's now in college) and even then, teens smoking, drinking (yes, in the daytime on a weekend or in the evening pre-dusk) were hanging out in the little covered pavilion on the property (don't know if it's still there or not, as I said it's been years since I was on the property, though drive by). We would make an afternoon or early of shopping at B&N, eating at Rio Grandes, and then go to the park playground. The playground at the time was not fenced in or really nice, it's since been renovated, so even in the midst of DT Bethesda traffic, people and all, it could be kind of empty on the grounds. Have to say that it sometimes made me uncomfortable as an adult with a toddler (we certainly did not know the teens) and didn't go there that much after a few times.

Yeah, I’m sure teens hang out there and smoke and whatever! But they don’t randomly assault innocent little girls who are just reading on a bench. OP’s daughter IS these kids (no shade, I’m sure she’s great). When something happens she can’t avoid her mom knowing about, like her broken glasses, she lies.

Seriously. If my daughter was attacked out of the blue while minding her own business, I guarantee she wouldn't go back to that place again, no matter how "cool" the kids were. OP's daughter either is one of those kids, or really wants to be one. I'm guessing she's kind of a wannabe, hanging around the edges and occasionally getting picked on because she's not truly part of the group. She keeps going back because any attention is good attention, and being picked on means they acknowledge her existence.

If it were my kid, I'd forbid her to go to a place that's proven to be dangerous. And then track her phone to be sure she complied.

[Anonymous]

Tackling someone is assault and you can report that to the police. Does she know the person's name that tackled her? Regardless of if she knows this girl or the boy, you can't assault someone or break their property. That is reportable, everything else, no.

She needs to find somewhere else to hang out though. Perhaps she is looking for trouble?

[Anonymous]

She needs new friends and less free time. Help her pick out a new sport or activities with a whole different group of peers to meet.

[Anonymous]

You need to call the Park Police, as it's under their jurisdiction.
https://www.montgomeryparks.org/about/park-police/

The speed of response depends on if the officer is in that area. They are pretty spread out.

MCPD will respond to a 911 call on park property since they are closer.

Also email Captain Gagen:
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/POL/districts/2d/index.html

He can have officers step up patrols. The area is already known to them, and it's on a major road. Actually I was driving by this morning and a cruiser was sitting on that small strip of land between the park and the library.

[Anonymous]

16 year old at a playground? Is she special needs? Otherwise she’s looking for trouble. Neurotypical, good kids wouldn’t be interested in this for a hangout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:16 year old at a playground? Is she special needs? Otherwise she’s looking for trouble. Neurotypical, good kids wouldn’t be interested in this for a hangout.

I live near a neighborhood elementary school playground. There are always teens there in evening, sometimes just shooting the breeze on the swings, sometimes smoking, sometimes up to no good in the parking lot. It is the the middle of our neighborhood so I guess it is just a central spot for them to meet. It has increased tons with covid, probably because they have less places to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your sixteen year old daughter hanging out and fighting at a park for little children is one of the rough kids, OP. The level of credulity to think your kid is so innocent she has no idea who jumped her or why, but also so determined to hang around kids whose names she doesn't know and who occasionally beat her up, is pretty funny.

They're going there to vape/smoke pot/drink/hook up where their parents can't see, and Larla absolutely is one of "them".

I'm sorry OP, but this.

There is no way that three separate times your child was violently attacked for no reason by random kids she doesn't know. Does that sound like a credible story to you?

This. Occam's Razor at its finest.