After downtown fight, Des Moines teens attack 55-year-old man

Following a large downtown fight involving Des Moines teens on Monday, several of the juveniles engaged in another fight a few hours later, resulting in a man being sent to the hospital.

Police responded at about 3:20 p.m. to the DART Central Station, 620 Cherry Ave., for a call of a large group of disruptive kids.

The group of juveniles, which numbered in the dozens, moved to Sixth Avenue and Walnut Street. There, at least one officer attempted to pepper spray teenagers who were fighting outside Walgreens, 606 Walnut St.

At one point, the crowd of teens grew to 100, said Sgt. Paul Parizek, spokesman with Des Moines police.

Initially, Des Moines school resource officers heard the fight was supposed to be between two students.

Throughout the day though as news of the fight spread on social media, "they realized this was becoming quite the spectacle," Parizek said.

Five patrol officers and five school resource officers were on scene at the fight, which lasted two hours. A range of violent acts occurred, including assaults on police officers and assaults between the students.

"We witnessed everything from just horrible manners to pretty significant violent crimes," Parizek said.

About an hour later, some of the teens got on a DART bus and went to the McDonald's at 601 University Ave.

As more teens gathered at the McDonald's a large fight broke out in the parking lot, Parizek said.

When officers arrived, they found a 55-year-old man who was bleeding from a large cut on his forehead. He told officers he was walking by and tried to pet a dog when for unknown reasons, the group turned on him, according to the report.

"He was just a man in the neighborhood passing through," Parizek said. "There was a dog there and he reached over to pet this dog and the large group just turned on him. They jumped him, overwhelmed him and beat him."

The victim was taken to Mercy Medical Center. His current condition is unknown.

While the fight wasn't gang related, Parizek said some of the students fighting were gang members.

Some businesses downtown have hired off-duty officers for more security and Des Moines police are visiting the area more frequently.

"That area's getting a lot more attention," Parizek said.

The Des Moines school district contracts with DART to provide bus service for students, according to its website.

Middle and high school students may ride DART routes for free with a student ID.