Detroit — Following a “teen takeover” of downtown two weeks ago that was marred by vandalism and brawls, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield and Police Chief Todd Bettison held a press conference last week with the 16-year-old organizers of the event and vowed to provide more constructive activities for the city’s young people.

The night after the April 10 press briefing at the Butzel Family Recreation Center, downtown was again flooded with teens — and chaos.

Videos of Saturday’s mayhem that surfaced on social media include what police said was the attempted robbery of a 19-year-old Van Buren Township man who was chased through a jeering crowd on Woodward Avenue until a Detroit Police Department cruiser appeared on the scene. Gunshots were reportedly fired near Campus Martius.

As city and police officials prepare for another influx of teens downtown this weekend, Sheffield and Bettison are garnering mixed reactions for their response to the April 3 “teen takeover,” which was part of a national social media trend that coincided with the Detroit Tigers’ Opening Day at Comerica Park.

Supporters praised Sheffield and Bettison for working with the city’s youths to find solutions, while critics accused them of sending the wrong message to lawbreakers and ignoring the concerns of business owners, residents and visitors.

Detroit Police spokesperson Jasmin Barmore said the coalition created by Sheffield and Bettison with young people will help police deal with the large number of teens expected to come downtown again this weekend.

“DPD and the city are better prepared for this weekend due to coming together with the youth and finding a more organized way for them to gather,” Barmore said.

Bettison and Sheffield are expected to provide the administration’s approach to crime with a community safety plan.

Downtown violence, teen mayhem have vexed Detroit for decades

For years, city and police officials have grappled with upticks in downtown violence with the arrival of warm weather. Each year from 2019-23, early spring shootings in the Greektown neighborhood near downtown prompted press conferences and strategies to deal with the problem.

Teen rowdyism has also vexed Detroit officials for decades. In April 1948, following a riot by zoot suit-wearing “hot-rodders” at a popular drive-in restaurant, former Detroit Police Commissioner Harry S. Toy launched a crusade against youth violence that included investigating comic books for possible subversive messages.

In April 1974, an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 teens forced the shutdown of the Belle Isle bridge, with 80 officers and a police helicopter deployed to quell the disturbance. In August 1976, members of the Errol Flynns, a Detroit street gang, rushed into the former Cobo Hall during a concert by the Average White Band and began beating and robbing concertgoers before rampaging through downtown, assaulting pedestrians and smashing car windows.

During Friday’s press conference, Sheffield said she wants to create safe spaces for teens to gather downtown. The mayor said she was impressed by the organizers of the “teen takeover” and wanted to work with them to channel that energy toward positive activities.

“What we saw last week was hundreds of young people organizing, mobilizing and showing up,” the mayor said. “Yes, it raised concerns, but it also revealed something very powerful. It revealed leadership; it revealed the ability for our young people to galvanize and organize at a level that we cannot ignore. Our responsibility is not to shut that down, but to channel it, to guide it, and support it, and to create pathways for it to be expressed in positive, safe and productive ways.”

Detroit Police Commissioner Darious Morris called Sheffield’s comments “an insult.”

“Nothing was said to the victims about making them feel safe downtown,” Morris said. “All they did at that press conference was praise the teens for being organized. These teens must be disciplined when they come downtown, but a lot of them came down and caused problems. Why are (Sheffield and Bettison) trying to be buddy-buddy with them?

“I’ve gotten calls from elderly citizens who are afraid of going downtown,” he added. “During that press conference, (the teen takeover organizers) were being celebrated, but the citizens I’ve talked to are concerned. They’re afraid these problems will continue, and the city won’t do anything about it.”

Sheffield’s spokesperson, John Roach, said the police will deal with the lawbreakers.

“While there has been a lot of attention on the mayor’s decision to engage and support youth instead of criticize them for their desire to have group activities, the mayor and Chief Bettison both made it clear that youth engagement will be coupled with enforcement,” Roach said in a statement. “It doesn’t have to be — and shouldn’t be — one or the other.

“The city is working with youth and other partners to develop more structured teen activations to give teens a way to enjoy summer in the city in an appropriate way,” Roach said. “At the same time, curfews will be enforced and parental responsibility tickets will be issued. As always, DPD will address all illegal activity swiftly and appropriately.”

How police thwarted an attempted robbery on April 11

Detroit police officers arrived in time on Saturday night, April 11, to stop a group of men who were chasing 19-year-old Hunter Holstein on Woodward near Congress, according to video of the incident Holstein posted to social media.

As Holstein was cornered outside the entrance of the Shake Shack restaurant, with onlookers jeering, a cruiser rolled up and sounded its siren. Police made an arrest in the incident, Barmore said.

Holstein said he doesn’t feel safe downtown anymore.

“I went down there with my friends, and a bunch of guys came up to us and started problems,” said Holstein, the Van Buren Township resident. “They wanted to take my chain, and when the police came, they ran off.”

Holstein, who described himself as a “social media influencer,” was heard on another video that was shot Saturday night before the robbery attempt, saying he wanted someone to try to steal his gold chain.

“Bro, we’ve been walking around for two hours, nobody tried to snatch this chain,” Holstein said. “Someone come over here and I dare you to take my s—.”

Holstein said he was joking.

“I didn’t try to egg anyone on,” he said. “People came up to us and harassed us, and then they started chasing me until the cops came. I won’t be going down there again anytime soon.”

Teen takeover organizers speak out about their intentions

Daveon Page, 16, who helped to organize the “teen takeover,” said during last Friday’s press conference that he didn’t mean to cause trouble.

“My intentions on the downtown takeover; it wasn’t bad, you know? I just wanted to get out the house, have fun, enjoy my time with my families and my homeboys, and my home girls, too,” Page said.

Danasha Tidwell, 16, who also helped organize the “teen takeover,” called the violence that accompanied the event “harmful and very unacceptable.”

“These actions put people at risk, damaged local businesses and created an unsafe environment for everyone,” Tidwell said. “Having fun should never come at the cost of someone’s safety or well-being. You must be mindful of the impact our actions have. … The way we act sets an example for the young ones who are watching us.”

Detroit Police spokesperson Barmore added that officers plan to strictly enforce the city’s curfew, which for juveniles under 15 is 10 p.m., and 11 p.m. for 16- and 17-year-olds.

“We expect them to be off the streets at the designated curfew time,” Barmore said in a statement. ” … the Detroit Police Department does not fear our youth. We love our youth and we are here to support them and protect them. However, we are still calling on our parents to do their parts in ensuring the safety of our children by making sure your child is not on the streets after curfew and when they do go outside to hang out with their peers, that they are behaving appropriately and not causing disruption.”

Sheffield said during Friday’s press conference that there “will always be a role for accountability.”

“There will always be expectations for parental responsibility, safety and enforcement,” the mayor said. “That is a part of keeping our city safe, and the overwhelming majority of young people also want a safe experience. But what I believe deeply, and what I heard directly from our young people is that enforcement alone is not the answer. … They want to be heard, they want to be part of something and feel like they belong, and that is exactly what this administration is going to do.”

Restaurant owner complains about harassment by teens

Grace Keros, owner of American Coney Island and a member of the Detroit Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Executive Board, said she feels city leadership is rewarding bad behavior.