After three weeks of reports of youths running amok at Consumer Square, a 14-year-old has been charged according to the New Hartford Police Department.
According to the New Hartford Police Department, officers responded to Consumer Square on Commercial Drive repeatedly for youths in the shopping center causing disturbances, harassing patrons, and allegedly stealing merchandise from Walmart and attempting to sell the property to people in the parking lot of adjacent businesses.
Additional reports have been made in regard to Hannaford's Plaza on Kellogg Road in Washington Mills.
As officers responded to numerous calls for service at Consumer Square, they dispersed the majority of those involved. Following further investigation by the New Hartford Police Criminal Investigation Division, a 14-year-old boy was located and arrested Monday, Aug. 10 and charged with burglary and petty larceny.
The boy and his parent were located and issued an appearance ticket for the Oneida County Probation Department due to the level of the offenses committed.
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The investigation remains ongoing, and additional arrests and criminal charges are possible as investigators continue to identify those involved.
"The New Hartford Police Department would like to remind parents and guardians that they are responsible for knowing where their children are and what activities they are involved in," New Hartford Police officials said. "Criminal charges against the custodial parent in incidents like this will be pursued where appropriate to do so."
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: New Hartford police charge teen after reports of Consumer Square incidents