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IMPD says they found 3 teens with guns over the weekend: Chief's remarks contradict their claim

IMPD Chief Chris Bailey made a remark that hundreds of kids were out downtown last weekend, with most carrying guns.

INDIANAPOLIS — On Monday, at a public meeting discussing the external review of IMPD's police shootings, IMPD Chief Chris Bailey made a remark that hundreds of kids were out downtown last weekend and without a parent present.

"In downtown Indianapolis this weekend, there were probably 400 unsupervised youth, most of them were carrying weapons, and we were able to mitigate those issues and make several arrests with weapons," Bailey said.

But on Wednesday, IMPD claimed something different.

The department claims its officers responded to one incident where a group of kids were causing a disturbance, and officers arrested three juveniles armed with guns.

So, which was it? One incident with three kids or several arrests with 400 kids?

13News' Chase Houle went to IMPD to get the answer and showed IMPD Ofc. William Young the video of the chief's remarks.

"Here you heard the chief talk about 400 unsupervised youth, most of them found with weapons, but here we're talking about one incident involving three different kids," Houle said after Young watched the video.

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While Young was answering, another public information officer chimed in off-camera.

"I think that's a little bit of a misspoke on the fact that most were carrying," the woman said off-camera.

Young continued on to say, "Obviously it's the chief, and I don't want to say....(laughs). I think he was trying to make a point of, again, we have teenagers downtown, we know that."

"Four hundred he said," Houle responded.

"Four hundred, but I don't want to say every last one of them had firearms," Young replied.

"But he said most of them did," Houle interjected.

"Most of them did, yes. So, I'm trying to think how I should put this..." Young said.

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So Houle asked a spokesperson with IMPD to speak with the chief – even for just five minutes – to address his remarks, but was told he was unavailable.

Despite questions about hundreds or just a few teenagers carrying guns remain, IMPD is calling on parents to step up and keep an eye on their kids.

"We don't want to have to use police authority, but if we have to, we will. And that's why it's so important that we want parents to be parents. We want parents to partner with the police department by knowing where your kids are at and knowing what they're doing," Young said.

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