HERMITAGE

Eight Hermitage teen-agers were recently cited with defiant trespassing for trick bicycle riding and skateboarding in Hermitage business parking lots and Hermitage Police Chief Ed Stanton says "enough is enough."

"We've had a lot of damage from these kids riding their bikes and skateboards in these parking lots," he said. Stanton added the damage has included broken windows, breaking benches or other property to create ramps, scuffing up the sidewalks and the buildings and the paint on buildings.

"We have gangs of kids here," said Marlene Epstein, a manager at Plaza Travel in the Hermitage Square Plaza, a lot popular with trick bicyclists and skateboarders after business hours. "They're jumping over the steps, riding over an incline here, chipping away the cement in the steps with skateboards. Once one of them almost went through our (business) window."

"They take whatever's available to build ramps with," Stanton said. "There are also people walking near the businesses and it can be dangerous to them too."

Jason Foor, 20, of 1185 East Lake Road, Transfer, and Walt Anthony, 21, of 17 S. 12th St., Sharpsville, along with a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old from Hermitage, were cited for continuing to skateboard after being asked to leave and using foul language at about 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the Sleepy Hollow Sleep Shop on S. Hermitage Road, Stanton said.

"An employee there called after they were interfering with customers and using bad language," the chief said, adding that the four had been warned before.

Four more teens were cited for defiant trespass Sunday night because they were trick bike-riding in the Hermitage Square Plaza parking lot. The two 16-year-olds and two 17-year-olds had been warned anywhere from two to six times. Their bikes were confiscated and one was also charged with disorderly conduct.

"They've been warned in the past," said Stanton. "Now we're arresting them to enforce it." Hermitage does not have a specific ordinance banning bike riding and skateboarding, but businesses can post their property against them.

Ms. Epstein said her business had been posted against skateboarding, but not against bicyclists, though it is now.

"When I told them about the sign, they said it's only for skateboarders," she said, referring to trick bicyclists in general in her lot. "I told them I sympathize with them and wish they had a place to ride, but I also told them this is a public building and whatever damage is done, we're liable for it. It's not only that they're damaging public property, there's also a danger of someone getting hurt."

Stanton said police recently found some Mercer teens skateboarding in the First National Bank parking lot that was posted, and they said their parents dropped them off, since there is an ordinance in Mercer which bans skateboards on most public streets and property. A similar ordinance exists in Grove City.

"We told them they had to leave," Stanton said.

Stanton also wants to send a message to those who are bike-riding or skateboarding in places that have been posted, or where they have been asked to leave. "We are going to start arresting people," he said. "We've had a lot of damage and enough is enough. We're cracking down on them."

Adults charged with defiant trespassing can get up to a year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine, according to the Mercer County District Attorney's office.