Crime & Safety

"Chaos and Violence" Again Closes Carnival Early

For the second time this year, trouble at the carnival at the Hamden Mart, including assaulting a homeless man and intimidating an elderly woman, leads to it shutting down early.

 

For the second time this year, trouble at a the carnival that took place over the weekend at the Hamden Mart led to its closing down early, according to police.

At about 8 p.m. Saturday night, police got a report of a large group of teenager gathering at the site of the carnival, according to police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith. The carnival was located in the parking lot next to Taco Bell.

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"Upon arrival, officers observed nearly 200 teens gathering in the area of the Hamden Mart," Smith said in a release Tuesday. "Officers received reports that the large group, a majority who were on bicycles, were impeding traffic by blocking the path of motorists. Members of the large group had allegedly surrounded the vehicle of an elderly female resident."

The woman was "visibly shaken," Smith said, but did not want to file a formal complaint. Officers escorted her from the area, he said.

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Soon after there were numerous fights breaking out throughout the area of the Mart and the Hamden Plaza, Smith said, including one where a large group attacked a homeless man near Kohls. Officers were later unable to find the victim, Smith said.

Because of all the problems, police decided to shut down the carnival early, Smith said. 

"Due to the chaos and violence, the carnival closed early at 9 p.m.," Smith said.

The same thing happened when the carnival came to town earlier this year.


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