Huber police: 5 arrested after fights at skate rink, ‘hard to tell what started’ it

Huber Heights police made five arrests in connection to fights that broke out in the parking lot of the Orbit Fun Center on Saturday night.

The Orbit had a teen skate night on Saturday, like it normally does, and it ended shortly before midnight for the adults-only skate, said Huber Heights Chief of Police Mark Lightner on Monday. Teens were waiting in the parking lot for rides or buses when the fights broke out.

Two juveniles were arrested and transported to a juvenile detention center, two juveniles were charged and released to their parents, and one adult was charged. All five were charged with disorderly conduct, a low-level misdemeanor.

Lightner said police can’t determine what triggered the fights at the business, 5001 Nebraska Ave..

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“It’s hard to tell what started the fights,” Lightner said. “We have had issues at Orbit at closing time in the past.”

Since 2017, the Huber Heights police department has been to the Orbit on calls of disorderly conduct 32 times, Lightner said.

Lightner compared the time when all the teens left the skating rink to a bar closing. It’s not uncommon for that many young people to be at the Orbit Fun Center on a Saturday night, he said.

“You’ve been in there all night with the same people and maybe something gets said that offends someone,” Lightner said.

Because of the number of fights that were taking place, Huber Heights police issued a signal 99 on Saturday night, essentially calling for back up.

Eight agencies responded to the signal 99, said Sgt. Brian Carr of Huber Heights.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Dayton Police Department, Vandalia, Moraine, Trotwood, Brookville and Five Rivers Metro Parks Rangers responded with Huber Heights. The extra manpower helped break up the fights.

Lightner said none of the teenagers fighting or the responding officers was injured in the incident. A media release from the Orbit Fun Center said there was also no property damage.

The release also said management from the Orbit Fun Center will meet with Huber Heights police to “further evolve” their policies on guest safety and security.

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