FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — Starting Friday evening, Prince George's County Police say any juvenile at the National Harbor not accompanied by a parent or guardian 21 years or older on the weekends between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. will be detained. Parents or guardians of that child could also face a fine of more than $250.
“What we saw unfold last weekend, by all accounts, was the single worst day we’ve had there," said Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.
Police say 800 unaccompanied minors were at the National Harbor Saturday night being disruptive and breaking the law. Some of the incident was caught on video.
“Fighting, shoplifting, smoking cannabis, being confrontational with business owners, residents and law enforcement personnel," said Prince George's County Police Chief Malik Aziz.
County officials said they found out some parents were renting hotel rooms at National Harbor and ordering late night rides for their children to get there.
“When you Uber a 14-year-old at 1 a.m. to National Harbor, you have done a very dangerous thing and you should be held accountable for it," said Edward Burroughs, Prince George's County Councilmember representing District 8.
“Our police personnel have personally encountered young people as young as eight-, ten-, eleven- and twelve-year-olds running around in the Harbor unaccompanied by an adult,” Aziz added.
The emergency executive order was passed Tuesday.
This week, a bill that will give Aziz the ability to enact curfews at commercial zones around the county will go into the formal introduction process. Three weeks later will come a public hearing on the bill followed by its enactment. At that point, the executive order will expire, and the bill will go into effect.
Right now, children under 16 will have to be accompanied by an adult after 5 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at National Harbor. It's similar to a curfew enacted here during the pandemic.
“It changed from a problem to no problem at all," said Lilly Pierce who lives at National Harbior. "It did work, yes."
Pierce said she's thankful for the county's quick response.
“This is not the only incident, but seemingly the most troubling and largest incident we had so far," Pierce said, calling the curfew "much needed."
"Bringing it back will help us see a decrease in crime again," said Dani Moore-King, a longtime resident of the National Harbor and the Democratic Central Committee Representative for District 26. "I do think it is definitely needed."
Prince George’s County Police said parents or guardians of a minor found violating this curfew will receive one warning. After that, they will face a fine of at least $250. Those fines will increase every hour the child isn't picked up from National Harbor. The parent or guardian will be fined the hourly wage of the county employee assigned to remain with the child plus the cost of benefits for that employee.
Some exceptions to the curfew are if the child is accompanied by someone over the age of 21 that is authorized by the parent or guardian, if the minor is in front of their residence or a next-door neighbor's residence if that neighbor did not make a complaint to police, if a minor is returning directly home from school, religious activity or work and if the child attends prom at National Harbor.
Do you have a news tip on this story or any other story? We want to hear from you. Tell us about it by emailing newstips@wusa9.com.
MORE WAYS TO GET WUSA9
DOWNLOAD THE WUSA9 APP
Apple App Store: WUSA9 News on Apple
Google Play Store: WUSA9 News on Android
HOW TO ADD THE FREE WUSA9+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for WUSA9.
For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "WUSA9" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
SIGN UP TO RECEIVE WUSA9 NEWSLETTER
Subscribe to our daily WUSA9 Newsletter for top stories from WUSA9 curated daily just for you. Get content and information right now for can’t-miss stories, Commanders content, weather, and more delivered right to your inbox.