Teen beaten along Detroit riverfront

Video shows boy get slammed to ground

DETROIT – Video shows a 16-year-old boy get slammed to the ground Wednesday at or near Hart Plaza. 

The boy's mother said it happened after his group of friends was jumped by another group. The video ends with the body slam, but the boy's mother said he was taken to a hospital with a bruised jaw and face, and a concussion. 

Detroit police said officers will investigate once a police report is filed and the boy can be interviewed. They are looking at the video closely. 

"Security on the riverfront is very important and our biggest challenge," said Mac McCracken, of Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.

The fight happened off the RiverWalk and just out of range of numerous security cameras. Security says fights are rare and crime has been virtually non-existent since the riverfront area boomed again in 2007. 

"We have a command center here 24 hours a day. I have a supervisor that's sitting here. If there is an incident, we dispatch our security first, we notify DPD or Wayne County Sheriff, or Border Patrol, whichever one is closest, as well as EMS," said McCracken. 

Detroit police responded to some calls from the area about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The callers reported groups of unruly teens. Six teens were detained for disorderly conduct, taken to the station and ticketed. They were released to their parents. 


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