WESTLAND, Mich. – A celebrated tradition turns into chaos during a homecoming football game in Wayne County.
John Glenn High School hosted Wayne Memorial High School on Friday (Sept. 27). Following the game, tensions flared as the crowds left the area, according to the Westland Police Department.
Social media videos documenting the melee are part of the police investigation.
“I think it even went beyond that,” said Jen Curry, acting superintendent of Wayne Westland Community School District
Once it ended, fights broke out among kids as spectators headed for the school parking lot.
When officers told the kids to stop, no one seemed to listen. As Westland police tried to break up the brawls, the kids reportedly assaulted the outnumbered officers, Deputy Chief Robert Wilkie said.
“One stole one of the body-worn cameras that fell off on one of the officers,” Wilkie said. “Worse than that, we had some punched a couple of times.”
An officer was also diagnosed with a concussion, he said.
The sprawling brawl lasted nearly an hour and required backup from area law enforcement.
Now, the Wayne Westland Community School District and police are boosting security.
Meanwhile, police arrested 12 kids, but the investigation is far from over, police said.
The officers are doing much better. Spectator restrictions include guest limitations, guest submissions, identification, and adult supervision for kids.
The acting superintendent told Local 4 the rules will remain in effect for the rest of the football season. Curry said the same rules apply to both teams.
It remains to be seen what will happen for the following year.
“It’s a shame that you have to come up with rules where people should have the respect for each one of us,” said Charles Davis, a grandparent of a John Glenn High School student.
However, others feel the measures go too far.
For police and school leaders, it’s the right game plan for this season.
“Safety has to come first,” Curry said. “After seeing videos, hearing what happened, debriefing with police department teams to our teams, it has to be done.”