PITTSBURGH — What began as a report of a juvenile being assaulted in East Liberty Saturday night escalated into a large police response involving dozens of teenagers, fireworks and one arrest of an adult man.
According to Pittsburgh police, officers were first called to the 5800 block of Penn Avenue around 10:45 p.m. for a report of a juvenile assault.
Investigators said they did not find any evidence that an assault or anything else violent had occurred.
Instead, officers encountered a large crowd of what they referred to as disorderly juveniles gathered outside an event venue.
“Yeah, it’s definitely a little messed up, they should know better,” said Roberto DeFazio, who works across the street from where the crowd had gathered.
According to a criminal complaint, officers were called back to the area shortly after 11 p.m. following reports that some teens had firearms and that others were shooting Roman candle fireworks.
Less than an hour later, authorities said the crowd had grown to roughly 200 people.
Investigators said several juveniles began throwing large fireworks into the street, with one reportedly detonating next to a police cruiser and near several officers.
This reportedly happened at the intersection of North Beatty Street and Penn Avenue in East Liberty.
“Cops are just trying to do their jobs, then that’s one thing, but maybe the kids felt like they were doing a little too much, but that doesn’t make it right to throw the fireworks at them,” DeFazio said.
Officials said it took officers from across the city, including the Special Response Team, more than an hour to clear the area.
SRT and other units staged at Penn Avenue and North Beatty Street to push the crowd back to the Target at Penn Avenue and Center Avenue, according to court records.
“There’s a fine line between people having fun and doing something where you could injure someone else,” DeFazio said.
After the crowd dispersed, investigators learned many of the juveniles had moved to Liberty Green Park.
Police later arrested 35-year-old Anthony Sands.
According to court documents, Sands was in the park and officers ordered him to leave multiple times, but he allegedly refused and stated, “I’m an adult, I’m going for a walk.”
Sands was taken to the Allegheny County Jail.
While no other arrests were reported, neighbors said they were surprised by how quickly the situation escalated.
“I just think it’s a fine balance between the kids just being able to enjoy themselves versus if they’re going too crazy, they’re bothering other people,” a nearby worker said.
Police said one juvenile was detained and taken to a nearby hospital but was later released to their parents and issued a citation.
No injuries were reported.
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