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Group Of Teens Cause Problems In East Liberty

EAST LIBERTY (KDKA) – Police are investigating after a group of roughly 100 teenagers allegedly caused some problems in East Liberty Sunday afternoon.

For most people who came to Mellon Park on Sunday, the Annual Mt. Ararat Baptist Church Picnic was a day of food, fun and fellowship.

"I think the bigger news story was 6,000 to 8,000 people came through and got free food. We gave away [televisions], bikes, Kennywood tickets," Rev Benjamin Calvert said.

It was also a day of trouble for about a hundred teenagers who attended the free community event. They got into a fight away from the church picnic grounds on the basketball court.

"The police were called, police broke it up, children moved. Police went there, broke it up, children kept fighting," Mark Dixon said.

The bad behavior continued from Mellon Park down Penn Avenue to the McDonald's, then to Trader Joe's nearby. Nearly 100 teenagers were being loud, rude and obnoxious.

Charles Flewellen witnesses displays like this often.

"With the area being upgraded there, should be more police officers and there's not," Flewellen said.

Finally the unruly teens went into the new Target store.

Paulette Reed , a customer, was upset by their actions.

"I don't like to see my African-American children carry on like that," Reed said.

Fortunately, no one was hurt, there was little or no property damage and only a few people were arrested.

The manager of Target praised police for keeping things under control.

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