PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – Peoria community leaders are urging more involvement in the wake of a violent car chase on Tuesday where six teenagers were arrested.
Two 18-year-olds and four juveniles; ages 16, 15, 15, and 13; were all arrested after the group allegedly stole a vehicle, attacked a 15-year-old, attempted to strike a 14-year-old with a vehicle near Peoria High, and threw objects at police squad cars and other motor vehicles before being stopped near Bradley University.
Peoria City Councilwoman Dr. Bernice Gordon-Young is a psychologist with nearly three decades of experience, and works with young people in the juvenile justice system. She says she’s seeing more crime committed by youths, with the crimes increasingly violent.
Gordon-Young echoed sentiments from Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria on Wednesday, telling 25 News that she wants to see parents more involved in their children’s lives.
“Talk to your kids, go into their rooms. Find out who they’re hanging with, and invite the friends into the home. Invite the parents,” Gordon-Young said. “See what’s really happening behind the scenes, so that when we know what to do, hopefully we can be preventive.”
Gordon-Young says the juvenile justice system is in need of reforms as well, noting it doesn’t give youths the proper consequences for today’s modern crimes.
Elite Community Outreach Co-Founder Carl Cannon called the recent acts of violence by youth inexcusable, even if parents are not engaged with their kids.
Cannon believes kids can get on the right track in life by staying in school.
“You can educate yourself out of poverty, out of the geography that you don’t see that favors you, and out of that dysfunction, but you have to go to school,” Cannon said.
Both Gordon-Young and Cannon say there are resources available for parents and children who need them.
(Reporting by Liz Lape, 25 News)
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