By Judy Halone-The Courier-Herald
More than 50 people attended a Feb.12 meeting at White River Middle School to address growing concerns about teenage weekend activity taking place near Tall Firs 10 Regal Cinemas and adjacent Bonney Lake businesses. The event included an 11-member panel of community leaders, Bonney Lake Police and members from the Parent-Teacher-Student Organization.
The topic was first addressed during the PTSO's January meeting after several parents told President Melissa Miller they had seen or heard of suspicious activity near the cinemas after dropping their students off to attend movies.
“It is a real problem,” Miller said. “You think they're buying a ticket but they're getting their money back 20 to 30 minutes later and then going to Fred Meyer.”
Phone calls made to Regal Cinema's corporate offices were not returned.
Karen Jackson, manager of the Bonney Lake Fred Meyer store, acknowledged the problem.
“As a company, we're glad to have these kids in the store,” Jackson said. “The situations on Friday nights are a different matter. It will start with three to five kids pushing, shouting and running. They get a lot more aggressive and hostile without regards to others' awareness.”
Jackson said that on Feb. 8 the store broke up a group of approximately 15 youths who had a pellet war after breaking apart two 55-pound bags of pellets.
“We see football games in the aisles, spilled food, refusing to leave the store and profanity,” she said. “It's a group behavior. You can tell how much peer pressure affects the others. I get a lot of customer complaints.”
Bonney Lake Police Officer Tom Rice said he sees it as a group mentality, which often encourages shoplifting.
“It's a group of kids who may not normally do that,” Rice said.
Loitering and shoplifting calls limit the responses police can make to more urgent matters.
“We're playing Ping-Pong,” Bonney Lake Police Sgt. Ken McDonough said. “Keep in mind that I've got DUIs and barfights to tend to.”
McDonough referred to a Feb. 9 stabbing at Babalouie's. The attacker fled into the Washington State University 4-H Demonstration Forest, which is considered private property and posted with “no trespassing” signs.
Police also see suspicious activity with older teens spending time with younger juveniles.
“A big problem is that I have seen 17-year-old guys, with alcohol, and a 12-year-old girl in the car,” McDonough said.
The activities are taking place because students want something to do on the weekends, several in the meeting acknowledged.
Jennifer Bacon, recreation services director for the city of Buckley, said she is hoping the new Buckley Youth Center will help fill that need.
“We just want them to be in a safe place and have fun,” Miller said. “We're not intending to walk away with a solution but to find a way to protect our kids. Peer pressure is an amazing thing for these kids - we just need to find some positive things for them to do.”
The PTSO is stepping in to help offer safe and fun activities by hosting a dodgeball tournament from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 29 at White River Middle School. The event is open to ages sixth grade to adult, and family participation is encouraged. Admission is $1 per person.
During a later interview, Bonney Lake Police Chief Mike Mitchell said his staff is fully aware of the problems near the cinemas and surrounding area, which most often occur on weekends between 7 p.m. and midnight. Police are aware of youths who stash alcohol in the forest.
“We do what we can but it's like finding a needle in a haystack, especially at night when they can hide,” Mitchell said. “And there are a lot more serious things going on.”
Mitchell said the problems are not unique to Bonney Lake.
“It's not isolated down here,” he said. “It's almost a cultural issue statewide.”
Mitchell said the best way to see a decrease in the activity is for parents to take an active role in their children's lives.
“Know where your children are and what they're doing,” he said. “Be involved with this.”
Judy Halone can be reached at jhalone@courierherald.com.
