Resident tells council dark alley near skate park needs lights after teen assault; staff say grant project coming

A Castaneda Township resident told Lock Haven City Council on May 1 that her 14-year-old grandson was attacked and assaulted in a dark alley near the city's skate park and asked the council to install lighting and clean up the area.

"My 14 year old grandson was attacked and assaulted January 23 of this year... There were 15 youths that attacked him that night, and nobody's seen or heard anything," Arlene Sam said during the public-comment period, describing needles and other drug paraphernalia she found in the alley and saying her earlier requests for lighting had not been acted on.

The city manager, Greg Olsen, said he had forwarded the related email to staff and asked public works to follow up. "I've forwarded his email to staff," Olsen said. Public works director Tony Stauffer was identified for follow up and staff said they would contact relevant crews to assess the alley.

Olsen and other staff cautioned that criminal charges depend on what prosecutors can prove. According to the exchange, a police lieutenant has been in contact with Ms. Sam but the district attorney's office had not been aware of every detail she described; staff noted that charges are a matter for law enforcement and the DA.

Council members and staff also noted a separate, grant-funded project that will begin construction in coming weeks. "It's a grant funded project, and it's gonna take a while to do," a city official said, adding the project likely focuses on the skate-park/baseball-field area and may not immediately cover the alley Ms. Sam described.

Council directed staff to follow up with the resident, coordinate with the police department, and have public works assess lighting and cleanliness in the alley. The meeting record indicates staff will pursue immediate outreach and return with any updates to council.

Next steps: staff follow-up with the resident and police, public works assessment of the alley and any short-term fixes prior to the larger grant project taking effect.