Groups of rowdy teenagers riding Metro trains as they return to school, combined with a series of violent altercations, have prompted police and juvenile watchdog groups to ramp up their patrols, while Metro riders do their best to keep out of harm’s way.
Both Metro Transit and D.C. police are putting more officers in stations and on trains to keep a lid on teenage trouble.
Damon Cooper, a 36-year-old Cheverly resident and Metro regular, was on the Orange Line recently when some teens started yelling foul language. Cooper asked the kids to keep their voices down, and one of them confronted Cooper while holding a knife.
An off-duty D.C. police officer was watching and arrested the young man. But Cooper says he’s still shaken by the experience.
“I ride the same train every day. What if I see the same kid today? What am I supposed to do?” he said.
Metro Transit Police increased their station presence after a melee involving dozens of youths broke out last month at the L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station.
The fight, which one witness described as a “schoolyard brawl,” ended with four people in the hospital and three teenagers in handcuffs.
Lt. Mitch Dowdy said Metro Transit Police have since stepped up their coordination efforts with D.C. police, and had started accompanying groups of teenagers onto trains.
“If we have a large group of juveniles, even if they’re not acting in an unlawful manner, we will have officers on the trains following them to make sure they have a safe trip,” Dowdy said.
Other organizations are taking similar steps.
John Ayala, D.C. chapter leader of the Guardian Angels, said his organization increased its patrols after the L’Enfant brawl, and have since had to break up several fights involving rambunctious teens on Metro buses and trains. The Guardian Angels are a volunteer group that sends patrols out to keep an eye on kids in neighborhoods, outside of schools and on public transportation.
Ayala said his organization is sending out up to 15 members on Friday and Saturday night patrols, and had seen their efforts pay off.
“You get a good amount of kids horsing around, being loud trying to show off for their buddies,” Ayala said. “But they quiet down when we’re there.”
