Alarmed by a report that 100 kids were brawling with baseball
bats in the Gilroy Sports Park at 5925 Monterey Frontage Road
Tuesday afternoon, Gilroy police and Sheriff’s deputies sent 10
units speeding to the site only to find the teens had vanished,
leaving only a few splattered paintballs in their wake.
Gilroy – Alarmed by a report that 100 kids were brawling with baseball bats in the Gilroy Sports Park at 5925 Monterey Frontage Road Tuesday afternoon, Gilroy police and Sheriff’s deputies sent 10 units speeding to the site only to find the teens had vanished, leaving only a few splattered paintballs in their wake.
A witness told Sheriff’s deputies that the teens arrived in cars about 3:30pm, got out and formed a huge circle. What happened inside the circle, the witness couldn’t say. Kids appeared to be videotaping the event with their cell phones, she said. Immediately afterwards, the teens got back in their cars and left. Officers arrived within minutes to find the park empty and the pavement strewn with paintballs.
There was no blood and no reports of any injuries at nearby hospitals, said Sheriff’s Lt. Dale Unger, who added that the witness may have mistaken paintball guns for bats. Because no gang colors were flashed, police don’t believe the incident was gang-related, though it may have been “a prank, or some kind of initiation,” Unger speculated.
“It’s a strange one, no doubt about it,” he said.
Gilroy Police Sgt. John Sheedy said such calls become more frequent as teens near graduation.
“They group up just to group up,” he said.
The teens violated a county ordinance that prohibits paintball use at a park, said Unger, and will be charged with the offense if caught.
“We’re not going to tolerate this type of behavior,” said Unger, “so we’re patrolling there more now.”
Anyone with information on the incident, including anyone who was assaulted, may contact the South County Sheriff’s substation at 686-3650.
