Former Detroit Police Chief James Craig said Saturday he thinks the city should work with youth to address the disruptive Teen Takeovers in downtown Detroit, but not negotiate with lawbreakers. He also said in certain instances the kids’ parents need to be locked up.

“This is a crisis,” Craig said during an appearance on the podcast Detroit in Black and White. “These are not just…harmless youth that are bored. We’ve heard several mayors around the country make those statements, this is harmless. That’s an illusion.”

“Some of the young people involved have no intention of getting involved in criminal activity but certainly there are some,” he said. “We all read the most recent article in Detroit News a day ago; they’re negotiating with the organizers. Who’s running the city? We don’t negotiate with lawbreakers. Now, again if this young man has the right intention, we can work together but among your group, there are going to be law violators, and we’re certainly going to deal with it.”

Craig was police chief from 2013 until 2021, when he stepped down to run for governor. Craig and  four other Republican candidates were removed from the race by the Board of State Canvassers for fraudulent signatures on their petitions. The candidates had hired a company to collect those signatures.