Action called for after ‘children’ allegedly attacked disabled man in Danvers Park

Danvers residents have had enough of the teenage “hoodlums” who terrorize their downtown by weaving in and out of traffic, shouting catcalls, trespassing on private property and wreaking havoc near businesses. In a recent case, a group of teenagers allegedly attacked a disabled man in a Danvers park, sending him to the hospital.

At a Danvers Select Board meeting Tuesday night, residents delivered a clear message: They called the police, but the police took no action. And now residents want a solution.

“These kids are a damn bunch of thugs,” said Antoinette Anderson, the mother of the disabled man the teens allegedly attacked.

Anderson said the teens had given her the finger and yelled at her in the past. Then: “You go and almost kill my son, who wouldn’t harm a flea. I made it this far,” she said, raising her hand to her forehead. “I want something done about them.”

Anderson added, “I’ve already hired a lawyer and I’m going to sue them for every damn penny they’ll ever make.”

Her son, Chris Anderson, also pleaded with the Select Board to take action.

“I was scared to death of these kids,” Chris Anderson told the board. “It breaks my heart every day and I can’t sleep at night. It is difficult. Can you please do more for me?”

Select Board Chairman Daniel Bennett said: “It is clear there is still work to be done.” He added that the police chief would be coming next month to speak to the board about their plans to deal with the situation.

Select Board member Maureen Bernard apologized to Chris Anderson and said the incident should never have happened.

“These kids can’t do what they do to people,” she said. “We have to take control.”

Outgoing City Manager Steve Bartha noted that police know what is happening. Police Chief James Lovell did not attend Tuesday’s meeting due to a conflict.

“I don’t want anyone to think that no action was taken,” Bartha said. Police “will do what is within the law to keep people safe.”

On Wednesday, the chief declined to comment on the trend of these incidents in Danvers. He noted that the Plains Park incident remains under investigation. The police department did not release the name of the victim or suspect.

Resident Rick Bettencourt wants a downtown improvement committee to return to the city. When he opened his business in 2005, he became actively involved in communicating with the Select Board and police about what was happening downtown.

But that committee has since disbanded, and as a result leadership has lagged behind in addressing downtown issues, he said.

“I’m outraged at what downtown Danvers looks like,” Bettencourt said at the meeting. “I hope that you will now find a way to work closely with the police to prevent these from terrorizing children.”

Some residents spoke of the youths, who are often seen “slamming wheelies” and “crying and screaming,” getting away with their actions because there are no consequences.

Select Board member Michael Dean said he has developed a proposal for the police to return to community policing. He hopes to create a record against the perpetrators and put more police officers on the streets.

“Public safety must come first,” Dean said. “If we can’t take care of one person, we don’t take care of anyone else.”

Select board member Dutrochet “Dee” Djoko agreed.

“This matter has gone on for too long and it simply needs to stop,” Djoko said. “Our children deserve to feel safe, and so do we. Nobody should worry when walking on the street. This is unacceptable.”

He added: “There is a difference between children and criminals. “We have to take it seriously.”

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Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter at Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime and business in the New England region.

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