by Mary Wilson
What began as a family-friendly event last weekend quickly
turned into a potentially dangerous situation, as a large fight erupted during
the Truman Heritage Festival on Saturday, May 6. According to Grandview Police,
a large fight involving both juveniles and adults broke out at the carnival
being held in conjunction with the festival on Byars Road in Grandview, and
multiple arrests were made.
“An adult female involved in the fight sprayed pepper spray
indiscriminately into the crowd including on police officers trying to break it
up,” said Grandview Police Captain Richard Rodgers.
A single gunshot was fired by an unknown suspect in the same
area, though no one was reported to be injured. Due to the large number of
individuals involved in the fight, a mutual aid request was made to neighboring
law enforcement agencies to assist in clearing the crowd. Officers from the
Kansas City Police Department, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, the
Belton Police Department, the Lee’s Summit Police Department and the Missouri
State Highway Patrol responded to assist.
Chira S. Smith, 33, from Grandview, was arrested for
fighting in public; Ashley M. Plunkett, 30, from Paola, KS, was arrested for
assault on a police officer and failure to obey; Bryson M. Sylvain, 29, from
Belton, was arrested for failure to obey; and Brittany N. Rymes, 17, from
Grandview, was arrested for fighting in public. A 15-year-old juvenile male and
a 16-year-old juvenile female, both from Grandview, were also taken into
custody. The male was arrested for assault on a police officer and the female
for fighting in public.
No injuries resulting from the disturbance were reported
with the exception of those exposed to pepper spray. The City of Grandview and
organizers for the Truman Heritage Festival on Sunday released a statement
saying that the incidents that occurred are not indicative of the community.
“(We) are angry and disappointed by what happened last night
as the Truman Heritage Festival neared its end,” the statement said. “We are
thankful Grandview PD acted quickly to ensure everyone's safety by calling for
mutual aid from area law enforcement agencies. Because of their quick thinking,
no one was hurt.”
With the safety of everyone in the community remaining a
priority, the statement added that organizers will be reviewing festival
security procedures and plans, as well as security for future events.
Visitors and vendors of the festival took to social media
following the incidents, expressing concern and outrage, including those there
with small children.
“My kids were excited to be there,” said carnival attendee
Scott Boyer. “We were only there for about ten minutes when multiple fights
broke out. There was so much mace in the air, we were coughing. It was
ridiculous and this will be the last time we go to the festival. It was embarrassing
for the City of Grandview.”
The adults arrested were charged through Grandview Municipal
Court and the juveniles will be referred to the Jackson County Family Court.
I would say it was embarrassing for the PEOPLE of the respective cities that were arrested. Grandview did a fine job with the festival and the GVPD did a great job, as mentioned, dealing with the juvenile delinquents of all ages.
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