A group of teens launched a wild riot at a behavioral hospital in Arkansas, trapping staff, damaging property, and forcing police to step in. Photo courtesy: Google Street View.

ICYMI: Teen Riot at Arkansas Behavioral Hospital Ends in Chaos and Arrests

A group of teens launched a wild riot at a behavioral hospital in Arkansas, trapping staff, damaging property, and forcing police to step in. 🌐 #News #TexarkanaAR #Arkansas #Crime

TEXARKANA, AR – A routine day at Riverview Behavioral Hospital in Texarkana spiraled into chaos on Sunday, as a group of teenagers allegedly staged a riot in a bold attempt to escape the facility. Hospital staff found themselves trapped, and the Texarkana Police Department was called in to bring the situation under control.

The Riot Breaks Out

The disturbance began when several juvenile patients took over part of the facility, blocking off areas and locking staff members inside an interior section. According to Texarkana Police Capt. Zachary White, the hospital reported the teens were “damaging doors, windows, and walls in an apparent attempt to escape.” Officers responded to the 911 call, finding the situation already spiraling out of control.

A Dangerous Confrontation

Police learned that the teenagers were not just rioting but also planning to overpower law enforcement. “On arrival, officers heard the juveniles telling one another to attempt to overtake and disarm officers once they entered into the facility so they could further arm themselves,” Capt. White said in a video statement posted to Facebook on Monday.

Officers quickly moved to secure the situation. Some of the teens surrendered when asked to leave their barricaded positions, but others resisted, continuing to destroy property and throw objects at police. Hospital staff remained trapped inside the unit during the standoff.

Subduing the Agitators

The police used pepper spray through a broken door window to control the teens. However, one youth continued to throw items at the door, forcing an officer from another agency to fire “a single shot from a less-lethal device” to subdue the individual, Capt. White explained.

Police identified the “primary aggressors” as two Black boys, one Hispanic boy, and one Hispanic girl.

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Legal Fallout and Next Steps

The four main instigators were arrested and charged with felony incitement of a riot. Three of the teens, including a 17-year-old boy and two 15-year-olds, were transported to a juvenile detention center. However, due to limited space for female juveniles, the girl was released with a felony citation and returned to the hospital.

The other juveniles involved in the disturbance were remanded to the care of the facility.

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