‘Unbelievable.’ Tri-Citians call out 100s gathered in parking lots during coronavirus pandemic

It’s known to some around the Tri-Cities as the Friday night “car show.”

A large group of teens and young adults often gather to socialize in the parking lot of Kennewick’s Highlands Center, in front of Gold’s Gym along Highway 395.

But as the novel coronavirus continues its quick spread across Washington state and the rest of the nation, Gov. Jay Inslee prohibited all social gatherings.

As of last Friday, his emergency order said “no” to groups of 50 people or more, and limited gatherings under 50 to those complying with social distancing and sanitation measures.

That didn’t stopped the “car show” in Kennewick.

Erik Aagaard posted a 27-second video on Facebook showing row upon row upon row of cars packed into the lot, with groups of people standing around in each aisle.

Aagaard wrote that he had picked up a prescription from a nearby store when he saw the gathering. He repeatedly described it as “unbelievable.”

“Not a care in the world tonight at Gold’s Gym on 395. Hundreds of people with disregard to orders by the governor of no more than 10,” he wrote. “This is about keeping people safe, especially the elderly. #stupid #selfish.”

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and President Donald Trump have set the bar nationwide at 10, saying any events that call for a larger number of people should be canceled or held online.

The orders have led schools to be shut down, businesses closed and many non-essential workers to be sent home during the global pandemic dealing with COVID-19.

Monday evening, Inslee announced a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order banning all public and private gatherings.

The governor said he had to issue the stay-at-home order for at least two weeks because some just aren’t grasping the seriousness and taking precautions, like practicing social distancing, he said.

Angry posts keep popping up on social media pointing out the careless or reckless behavior of others. They say people not taking the outbreak seriously might be endangering the health of immune-compromised people.

A post on the Flatten the Curve — Tri-Cities group talked about how carloads of people continue to park at the “Top of the World” at the end of Glenwood Court in south Richland.

And a commenter on the car show post said, “These morons are going to be the reason we get put on a lockdown.”

Kennewick police Lt. Aaron Clem was not immediately aware that a citizen had reported it Friday night and that an officer responded.

Dispatch received the call at almost 11 p.m. Friday, and “nobody was there by the time (the officer) got there,” Clem said. The report was that more than 50 people were gathered, and he agreed with that assessment after watching Aagaard’s Facebook video himself.

Nearly a dozen signs are posted throughout the Highlands Center parking lot stating, “No loitering. Customer parking only.”

Gold’s Gym is closed as part of the order regarding recreational facilities.

Right now, it is a gross misdemeanor crime to willfully violate the governor’s order.

“However, that being said, we are not going to go out there and start arresting people for meetings,” said Clem.

The Benton County jail is not going to take the large groups of people at this time, and that would put officers into a situation where they’re in direct contact with those groups.

“We will use it as an opportunity to try and educate people about the reasons why, to try and be safe,” said Clem. “And if we have to, then we will write a report with as many names as we can gather” and forward it to prosecutors for consideration of charges at a later date.

He also encourages parents to have a conversation with their kids about the seriousness of the coronavirus and help them understand why it’s not OK to gather with all of their friends.

Richland gatherings

In Richland, some comments are being made about the frequent gatherings in the parking lot near the Hills West gazebo at the top of the mountain.

People report seeing young adults running from car to car as they socialize.

A commenter reminded fellow Facebook users to consider the “level of development” of teens and the fact they don’t yet have decades of life experience. They suggested a constructive way to teach or mentor better behavior.

Capt. Chris Lee said the Richland Police Department has received calls about “people being out and about and gathering, but nothing that we’ve actually seen or taken any enforcement action against.”

Officers across the region are still policing and will take enforcement action when necessary, he said.

There is nothing prohibiting people from going out and accessing public lands, but they still must follow social distancing guidelines. The city’s parks and trails remain open, while all facilities like restrooms have been closed.

And if they are violating park rules or the governor’s gathering restrictions, then people should call it in to emergency dispatch instead of just taking their concerns and frustrations to Facebook and other forms of social media, said Lee.

“It’s good to be out and be healthy and doing active things, but we want to make sure we’re maintaining our distance and be sure not to spread or infect other people or places,” he said.

Non-emergency dispatchers can be reached at 509-628-0333.

This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 5:46 PM.