West Des Moines reopens park police closed after fight with 50 people, found loaded AK-47
West Des Moines reopened Crossroads Park on Monday after police and city staff decided to close it this weekend for a Friday night fight that involved 50 people.
Police were dispatched to the park, 5205 Ashworth Road, for a large fight that was reported on Friday night, the West Des Moines Police Department said in a news release. Officers found evidence of illegal drug use and an abandoned loaded AK-47 rifle at the park.
Also at the park, police arrested and charged an 18-year-old for illegally carrying a handgun that officers seized, and there was a shooting June 23 that left two people injured.
All three incidents led police to close the park from Saturday afternoon to late Monday morning. Police and city staff said the closure was intended to protect visitors, including those who had rented shelter space over the weekend.
Park closures like this are rare, Sgt. Dan Wade, spokesperson with the West Des Moines Police Department, said in a statement.
“The City of West Des Moines did not take this decision lightly,” Wade said. “We don’t take safety lightly either. We needed this closure to give our people a chance to make sure the park was safe again. We appreciate the community’s patience, and we will continue to monitor activity in the park.”
José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: West Des Moines reopens Crossroads Park after 50-person fight
