Crime & Safety

Update: Police Investigation into Police, Student Clash McDonald's Could Take 2 Months

Two Formal Complaints Filed with Police

UPDATE Thursday: Here are the latest developments in the incidents surrounding four  juvenile arrests at Friday's McLean-Langley game and a fifth arrest outside the downtown McDonald's. There was a clash between police and students  inside the McDonald's.

The Fairfax County police Wednesday: Released details of the five juveniles arrested for public drunkenness. Released details of their investigation of incidents that occurred at the McDonald's.

Two formal complaints have been filed in connection with the incidents, police said.

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Fairfax County police arrested four juveniles at the game and charged them with public drunkenness. A fifth arrest took place after the game outside of  the downtown McDonald's where large number of Langley and McLean students gather after games.

Juvenile Arrests: Juveniles who are arrested are not named. Those arrested included four students from McLean High School ages 17, 16,  and two 15-year-olds, and one 17-year-old Langley student, police said Wednesday.

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Police Investigation. An administrative police investigation into what happened at the McDonald's between police officers and students  will be conducted by a detective/supervisor that is independent of the situation, police said. It is police policy to conduct an administrative investigation on allegation involving use of force.

The supervisor was not named. Police spokesperson Lucy Caldwell said investigation maybe completed in two months or so.

Police, students and parents give very different accounts of what happened inside the McDonald's.
 
ORIGINAL STORY Wednesday Feb. 15: Fairfax County police arrested five juveniles in McLean Friday and charged them with public drunkenness during a series of disturbances involving hundreds of students from McLean and Langley following their crosstown game. The worst incidents occurred at the downtown McDonald's.

McLean Police District Commander Capt. Daniel Janickey gave an initial report of the incidents and the arrests.

Some students, the Langley student newspaper and some parents gave different accounts of police actions at McDonald's.

Fairfax County police said they would release more details about the juveniles arrested tomorrow. Their names will not be released.

Neither Langley High principal Matthew Ragone not McLean High principal Dr. Deborah Jackson responded to requests for their comments.

 At McDonald's in downtown McLean, “We were outnumbered tremendously. We had three officers available  and  the crowd was being unduly. It was unsafe situation,” for the community, Capt. Janickey said Tuesday.

 "You had over 100 kids in there (at the McDonald's). They just took the place over. Some  were intoxicated. They didn’t listen to management or police. The officers were trying to maintain order," he said."This is a community and public safety issue."

Four of the arrests for public drunkenness occurred at the McLean High School, the site of the crosstown game which has engendered more passion than usual because both basketball teams are enjoying a banner year.

A fifth arrest was made during a melee at the McDonald's where police officers had to wade into the unruly crowd of perhaps up to 300, Janickey said.

Reacting to reports that a student was struck by an officer at McDonald's, Janickey said: Three officers went into the huge crowd inside McDonald's. One used a baton holding it parallel to the ground and walking forward trying to get to two individuals who were getting ready to fight. "There was no swinging of a police baton," he said.

 "The officers were telling them to disperse and  they were not listening. The officer did use his baton "to hold one individual up against the wall. No one was ever struck with a baton,” Janickey said.

Capt. Janickey gave this preliminary description of events. The police will conduct an administrative investigation into the incident. It is police policy to conduct an administrative investigation on allegation involving use of force, he said.

Anticipating a large crowd for the  Friday game, the police had extra  off-duty officers at McLean High School.

The Saxon Scope, Langley's award-winning student newspaper, reported a larger than normal crowd attended the game. "The girl’s game started at 5:45. Everyone who arrived after the tip off was told to get in a line in order to be admitted.

"By 6:30 the line stretched from the gym doors all the way down the long McLean hallway. Many police officers stood by to terminate Langley and McLean scuffles as well as make sure everyone waited their fair turn in line.

"Although the cops tried to regulate it, many people continued to cut the very competitive line. Many people pushed and shoved in order to reach the front," the Scope reported.

As the game ended, the police sent two to three police cruisers to the McDonald's “to try and monitor the crowd," Janickey said. McDonald's on Old Dominion Drive is a favorite gathering place for Langley and McLean students after games, and the scene or other disturbances between the two groups this basketball season.

"An officer there saw an altercation between two groups of kids and he intervened,” in this incident outside of McDonald's, Janickey said.

 “At this point large groups of kids started showing up. There were well over 100 kids in the McDonald's. . . The manager came running out and said there was a fight in the restaurant. They went to maintain order and control the crowd,” the captain said.

That's when the three officers went into the restaurant and one used his baton "trying to get to two individuals who were getting ready to fight," Janickey said.

"We are concerned here at the (police) station about the size of the crowd showing up at the games and afterward moving the community into local restaurants and getting into disturbances. It’s become a public safety issue,” Janickey said.

The Saxon Scope reported: "The end of the game certainly did not mark the end of the already chaotic night. An insane number of students from both Langley and McLean went to McDonald's afterwards, which proved to be very drama filled.

"Police accompanied the students in order to break up fights. After breaking up a heated argument, one officer screamed at everyone to leave while threatening kids with his baton.

"Students gawked as the police officer struck an innocentLangleystudent with his baton three times. This was an outrage to both Langley and McLean students, the only time all night the rival schools agreed on anything.

"For all the students who were hoping for a memorable night, they certainly got one," The Scope reported.

The police will work with the schools and businesses on “how we can resolve this from getting any worse,” Capt. Janickey said.


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