Prescott Valley Police are investigating a juvenile fight at Mountain Valley Park that drew criticism online over the department’s response time.
Dispatch received the call at 3:17 yesterday afternoon. At the time, officers were already committed to two separate injury crashes at other locations in town. Police say those active life-safety calls were prioritized — as protocol requires — and officers were dispatched to the park at 3:32. They arrived three minutes later.
Investigators reviewed witness video and park surveillance footage, which confirmed a physical fight between two juvenile males. Early reports that one person may have been armed with a knife were not supported by the video evidence. Police also say there is currently no indication the incident was gang-related.
The family of the juvenile victim has declined to pursue formal charges. Even so, the case will be forwarded to a PVPD detective assigned to the Arizona State Gang Task Force for a secondary review.