Neighbors upset with “aggressive activity of juveniles” in Fountain park; 18-year-old arrested on gun charge

FOUNTAIN, Colo. (KRDO)-- The Fountain Police Department (FPD) arrested an 18-year-old woman Saturday morning for unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon at Fountain Mesa Park.

FPD said it received reports of possible juveniles passing a handgun around in the skate park area of the park, and when officers arrived, they said they saw three teens with the handgun. According to FPD, 18-year-old Grace Harless was arrested, and charged with unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon. An unnamed 18-year-old male and a 16-year-old male were questioned by police but were not arrested.

FPD posted on Facebook in March, stating the department had received calls from concerned neighbors about, "aggressive activity of juveniles" at Fountain Mesa Park. In response, FPD upped patrols in the area.

But now, 7 months later, FPD says it has cut down on the patrols in the area because they have heard fewer complaints regarding the issue. FPD told KRDO it would continue to patrol the area, but not to the extent it was previously.

But neighbors say the issue is still real. KRDO spoke with people living near the park, who believe the problem has not been resolved despite the help from FPD.

"Sometimes they'll take money from them, shake them down. You know, this is just making for an unpleasant experience, Bill Coleman said.

Coleman has lived in the neighborhood near Fountain Mesa Park for 33 years and says some of the parents in the neighborhood don't feel safe taking their kids to the park because some of the older teenagers are harassing, the younger children.

"They need to have respect for people," Coleman said of the teens.

Coleman added that it has been an ongoing issue for the last several years, specifically at the skate park area. He believes there's only so much the police can do, and said parents need to hold their kids accountable too.

"What I'd like to see get done is real accountability for the kids, that you know, that get caught doing this," Coleman said. "You can't coddle them. You know, they're doing something wrong. They're old enough to know right from wrong."

FPD said if anyone sees any suspicious or criminal activity at the park, report it to FPD at 719-390-5555 or if it’s an emergency, call 911.