Tom Joyce/The News
This sign is posted at the entrance to Riverside Park
“That’s probably the most we’ve had,” Capt. Alan Freeman of the Mount Airy Police Department said in reference to the 11 citations issued in violation of a city ordinance, calling it a “very unique situation.” This type of offense was reported only on a sporadic basis at municipal parks before Sunday night.
“I would say there’s been more problems at Westwood Park than any other park,” Freeman said of the more-secluded facility on Galax Trail.
The 11 persons were cited Sunday at Riverside Park for allegedly breaking a rule that prohibits occupancy of the facility after dark, according to police records.
They were targeted a day after a new skateboarding plaza opened at Riverside Park; however, it has no relationship to the alleged trespassing violations. “There were no skateboarders involved in that,” Freeman said of the Sunday night incident.
He also said police had noted no problems previously at Riverside Park before acting Sunday night.
Those cited allegedly had been in the park for intervals of 30 minutes to an hour after it was to be closed to the public, based on police records.
The 11 people included Marcela Rojas Cortes, 41, of 569 Belvue Drive; Walter Seba Leftwich Jr., 48, of 128 Gwyn Ave.; Marcos A. Cortes-Guillen, 35, of Clovis, N.M.; Whitney Jensine Galloway, 18, of 143 Square St.; Regina Wolfe Combs, 45, of 108 Airview Drive; Oscar Luna, 21, of 159 Summit Drive; Johnny Edsel Smith III, 17, of 131 Hilda Ave.; Roberto E. Luna, 23, of 1729 Pittman St.; Devin Montae Robinson, 19, of Winston-Salem; Vladimir Tinoco Moreno, 32, of 1371 Doe Run Road, Ararat, Va.; and Maria Del Pilar Cortes, 36, of Baltimore.
All have Surry District Court dates scheduled in September.
It is important to keep the public out of city parks after hours because they are not equipped for nighttime occupancy, including a lack of lighting in parking and other areas, Lt. Jim Armbrister said. Having people there after dark could invite crimes and other security issues, Armbrister and Freeman said.
“They need to read the signs,” Freeman added.
Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.
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