Hundreds of juveniles flood Navy Yard streets in Halloween chaos as MPD makes arrests
WASHINGTON, DC – What began as a peaceful Halloween gathering in Navy Yard Friday night escalated into hours of unrest as hundreds of juveniles took over streets near the Metro station, prompting a multi-agency law enforcement response and multiple arrests.
The disorder began shortly after 7:30 p.m., when First District officers observed growing groups of teens assembling in the park between First Street and New Jersey Avenue SE, next to the Navy Yard Metro Station. By 8 p.m., the crowd had swelled to several hundred. Police said the gathering quickly shifted from calm to chaotic as fights broke out and juveniles began blocking traffic and ignoring police orders to stay on sidewalks.
MPD responded by calling in additional personnel along with Metro Transit Police, U.S. Capitol Police, the National Guard, and members of a federal task force. Officers closed surrounding streets and began clearing the park area, directing many of the youths into the Metro station to disperse the crowd. By 11 p.m., the gathering had been broken up, but police maintained a heavy overnight presence in the area.
MPD reported five arrests tied to the incident, including:
- Kaeden Brown, 18, of Accokeek, Maryland, charged with possession of a prohibited weapon (knife)
- A 16-year-old male from Southwest DC, charged with public consumption of marijuana
- A 15-year-old male from Southeast DC, charged with affray (fighting in public)
- A 14-year-old male from Southeast DC, charged with failure to obey and resisting arrest
- A 14-year-old male from Southwest DC, also charged with failure to obey and resisting arrest
Metro Transit Police also made additional arrests, and one MPD sergeant suffered minor injuries after being knocked to the ground while attempting to restore order. The officer was treated on the scene by DC Fire and EMS.
Police Chief Pamela A. Smith condemned the unrest, calling the behavior “unacceptable” and confirming that MPD will increase its presence in the area to prevent further incidents. Several streets around the park south of M Street SE are expected to be preemptively closed on Saturday night.
Despite the disruption in Navy Yard, police noted that Halloween events hosted by MPD and other DC agencies across the city took place without incident.
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Key Points
- A crowd of several hundred juveniles caused unrest in Navy Yard on Friday night, leading to street closures and five arrests
- Charges included possession of a prohibited weapon, resisting arrest, and public fighting
- MPD and partner agencies dispersed the group by 11 p.m. and will increase police presence to prevent further activity