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Fights force Hazel Park Memorial Carnival to shut down early

By Veronica Meadows and David Komer online producer
Published  May 31, 2022 11:46pm EDT
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 2 Detroit

Hazel Park's Memorial Weekend Carnival marred by teen assaults, closes early

Hazel Park police are investigating several fights at the carnival. Investigators believe teenage boys are mostly involved, police say they made three arrests for disorderly conduct.

HAZEL PARK, Mich. (FOX 2) - Hazel Park's Memorial Weekend Carnival was shut down early yesterday because of several fights.

Workers are taking down festival tents at Green Acres Park Tuesday. The carnival there has been a beloved tradition for families since 1988.

"I don’t want to go back ever again," said Alisa Barrows.

Barrows says she watched her boyfriend's 13-year-old brother get beat up by a group of guys at the festival. She said it all started as she and Angelo Gonzales were walking to the car Monday night.

Barrows said some boys went up behind Angelo, hit him in the back of the head, and pushed him toward the street.

"As they got them in the street there was more of them," she said. "They got them on the ground, and he had to cover his head, because they were kicking him in his head, in his face, and his back."

Thankfully Angelo is not seriously hurt. He has some scrapes and bruises, and is dizzy and sore.

"I’m sick, it’s disgusting, it breaks my heart. It's my kid," said his mother, Mellisa Gonzales-Werner.

Now Hazel Park police are investigating several fights at the carnival. Investigators believe teenage boys are mostly involved, police say they made three arrests for disorderly conduct.

"They could have killed my kid, they could’ve killed any of the other kids they pummeled," Werner said.

Angelo's mom says a 21-year-old family member has broken ribs and a concussion from another fight. Photos of a different family member show scrapes on his arm and head.

This also isn't the only recent violence at a festival. Last month FOX 2 obtained phone video showing two brawls at a carnival in Sterling Heights.

The Saint Mary's Festival that normally happens over Memorial Day weekend was canceled because of safety concerns.

Now Werner says living with violence has become far too normal.

"My kids aren’t safe to even go to a fair," she said. "You can’t go to school, you can’t go to the movies, you can’t go to the fair. What am I supposed to do? Keep them locked up, sheltered?"

Police tell us they called for mutual aid from other cities to help with crowd control. Right now it's not known if the carnival will be back next year.