Ohio Parents Face Charges After Renting Party Bus for Teen's Birthday, Breaking COVID Protocol
Getty
Ohio parents are facing charges after renting a party bus for their 14-year-old's birthday, flouting local public health guidelines and curfews amid the ongoing pandemic.
Just before 10 p.m. local time on Saturday, Dec. 12, officers "observed a large, unmarked bus" stop at the Hilltop Shopping Center parking lot and let off "numerous" children, according to the Mount Healthy Police Department. The kids, police say, were not wearing masks or following social distancing measures, and "several fights broke out which necessitated calls for assistance from other police agencies."
One child was arrested after they "attempted to strike" a police officer.
Police say the driver of the bus fled the scene and left behind approximately 60 kids after the driver "disregarded the officers' command to reboard the juveniles." Mount Healthy PD described the kids, who were not from the city, as being "in a very agitated state for officers to deal with."
RELATED: Couple Who Played Santa and Mrs. Claus Test Positive for COVID-19 After Taking Photos with Children
Google Maps
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
"Officers worked over the next hour to break up numerous fights and distance the juveniles," say police. "Officers, trying to maintain order, directed the juveniles to socially distance themselves and contact their parents for transportation."
Officers soon figured out that a parent had arranged for a "party bus" to pick up children in downtown Cincinnati for a child's 14th birthday celebration, transporting the teens to Mount Healthy, about 16 miles away.
An invitation was circulated on social media, advertising an "open invite" for the party bus excursion, police say.
RELATED VIDEO: Nurse in Queens Among First in U.S. to Receive COVID Vaccine in Livestreamed Administration
Nurse in Queens Among First in U.S. to Receive COVID Vaccine in Livestreamed Administration
Sandra Lindsay, an ICU nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, earned applause after receiving Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine on Monday morning
RELATED: 'Happy' 9-Year-Old Girl Who Died of COVID Wanted to 'Touch a Lot of Hearts,' Mom Says
"The parents responsible have been identified and will be charged with violations of the Governor’s Orders and we are consulting with the Prosecutor’s Office in hopes of adding additional criminal charges for the parents and the others involved," says the police department.
Law enforcement noted that Mount Healthy has a curfew in place regarding children being out in public at nighttime.
"Parents — it is your responsibility to manage your children," the police say in a statement on Facebook. "Mount Healthy Police will not tolerate blatant law violations especially when such action endangers our community, our officers, and public health."
As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from the WHO and local public health departments. PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMe to raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, click here.
