Skate event leads to arrest

08:14 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 22, 2005

JIM DOUGLAS / WFAA-TV

FORT WORTH - A skate gathering turned bad Tuesday when Fort Worth police issued tickets and arrested one skateboarder. Perhaps a hundred skateboarders or more skated through downtown making a point, but paying a big price.

The skaters gathered together for an event called "Wild in the Streets," promoted through the internet and word of mouth. Skaters took part in several cities nationally and globally as a sort of worldwide skateboarder demonstration of who they are.

As skaters reached the Fort Worth train station, they were met by police and officials who warned them they could not skate on the sidewalks.

"Skater haters man," said one skater as he waved his ticket in the air. "Six-hundered-bucks for waxing a curb that was already waxed."

Police said it is legal to skateboard on sidewalks, but not on the downtown streets. However, skaters continued and rolled north weaving through cars and pedestrians .

WFAA-TV

A skateboarder gets arrested Tuesday in Fort Worth for evading police.

They didn't know officers were waiting for them at Heritage Park near the old courthouse.

Someone yelled cops and the chase began.

Police ticketed 20 to 30 skateboarders and jailed one who they said refused to stop.

Perhaps the department's first ever bust for evading arrest on a skateboard.

"It was supposed to be a just go skateboarding day," said Mike Beedle, a skateboarder. "Have a good time and just enjoy the weather with friends."

Another skater expressed his annoyance at the lack of places to skate.

"There's public baseball fields," said Jayson "Shag" Arrington. "There's public pools. They need to create a public area for skating."

E-mail jdouglas@wfaa.com