South Euclid police report they've been dealing with a growing number of problem juveniles, and are using police body cameras to diffuse emotionally charged confrontations.
Lt. Joe Mays told newsnet5.com a 15 year old attempted to bite two officers as she was being arrested for refusing to leave the McDonald's on Mayfield Road.
Minutes earlier, a group of juveniles were nearly hit by on-coming traffic after a slap boxing incident spilled onto Mayfield Road.
Police were also called to the South Euclid library after a teen refused to leave. Library staff told police the teen caused a disturbance on two consecutive days and wouldn't leave the property.
All of these confrontations were caught on police body cameras as officers issued tickets and spent time talking to the troubled teens.
Mays attributes the spike in juvenile incident reports to growing after school foot traffic along Mayfield Road.
Some the increased traffic has been caused by the moving of Cleveland Heights School to a middle school building down the street, as the high school undergoes full renovations.
Mays told newsnet5.com police are using a social media search tool to keep track of troubled teens and get important information on potential suspects.
"It searches Facebook, it will tell you that someone has posted something on Facebook within this geographical area," said Mays.
"If you're a juvenile, depending on the crime, you can be released to your parents, or you could end up at the detention center downtown."
