The First United Methodist Church is among the few places in Lancaster city that don't discourage skateboarding on their property.

In fact, its policy is quite the opposite.

"The skateboarders showed up last September, and we determined that — in church terms, theological terms — God gave them to us," said the Rev. Kent Kroehler, the church's senior pastor.

Later, around Thanksgiving, the church's leaders decided to extend an official invitation to the group of some 20 or 30 regulars who even in bitter cold weather showed up to skate under the protection of First United Methodist's covered parking lot.

"Welcome Skateboarders," an 8½-by-11-inch sign posted at the rear of the 29 E. Walnut St. church reads. "We're glad you're here!"

The arrangement has, for the most part, worked out well. There have been no serious problems, Kroehler said, save for the occasional foul language on church property.

There were no serious problems, that is, until Feb. 3.

That's when, according to police, two 15-year-old skateboarders assaulted a city police detective who had stopped to question whether they were trespassing on private property.

The detective, Toby Hickey, was unaware of the arrangement between the church and the skateboarders, his supervisor said Tuesday.

And Kroehler said the church never mentioned the deal to the police department, which has been cracking down on skateboarders downtown.

The lack of communication appears to have played at least a small role in what turned out to be the injury of a 10-year police veteran and the arrest of a pair of honors students.

"Urban skateboarding is a regular complaint which gets funneled to us from the community," said Pete Anders, the captain of the city police detectives unit.

"Some of our downtown churches and businesses — Trinity Lutheran, the (Lancaster Public Library), the owners of our old police station, Wachovia Bank — have all complained of urban skateboarding and property damage," he said.

Early on the evening of Feb. 3, Hickey was driving to another assignment when he spotted the teens skating at the church.

"The detective was checking whether they were trespassing and had verbally addressed them because of knowing the chronic problem skateboarding is downtown," Anders said.

The teens were not trespassing.

And what at first seemed like a routine stop quickly got out of control. One of the teens yelled obscenities and refused to follow the detective's orders, and Hickey moved in for the arrest.

As the 10-year veteran of the force was attempting to arrest the teen — Lt. Todd Umstead said it was for disorderly conduct because of the obscenities — one of the other boys struck the detective on the head with a skateboard, police allege.

During an ensuing struggle, the detective was hit in the leg by the teen he was trying to arrest, police said. About 15 city officers responded to the incident.

None of them knew skateboarding is allowed at the church. When told of the invitation to skaters by First United Methodist, Anders said: "That's the first I'm aware of it."

A month later, Hickey remains on medical leave from the department, police said.

At one point, Hickey reportedly drew his gun — a report police will neither confirm nor deny.

"He defended himself when he was attacked," Anders said.

Both teens, who are 15 and live in the city, face charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

They were both committed to the Youth Intervention Center.

Two other juveniles who were present were released.

Police would not release the identities of the teens because they are minors. But the two have been described by acquaintances as honors students and members of the International Baccalaureate program at McCaskey.

School officials declined to comment, and neither of the students nor their parents could be reached for comment.

In Kroehler's mind, the incident raises some very important questions. Among them: Did the detective sufficiently identify himself to the skateboarders?

"My personal judgment is, it's a little hard to believe that the kids would use crude language and resist the officer if they knew he was a officer," he said. "And it's a little harder to believe that a kid would whack a guy in the back of the head with a skateboard if he knew he was an officer.

"There's a mystery in here. We are so grateful that police do what they do. Everybody's riding the careful line because you don't want to be critical. We want them to see bad behavior on our lot and step in.

"The kids' actions seem to indicate that they did not believe he was a police officer, or he did not say it," he said. "The kids' actions do not make sense."

Anders said Hickey was dressed as detectives typically dress — in plain clothes. He was driving an unmarked car.

But Hickey clearly identified himself as an officer of the law, Anders said.

"The conduct of the two youths was criminal," he said. "They will have an opportunity, through their defense attorney, to defend themselves."

Lancaster police Chief Keith Sadler was more blunt.

"I don't have a lot of sympathy. The two kids who got arrested deserved to get arrested," the chief said. "This hits a sore nerve with me. My detective took 12 stitches in his head and his knee's all banged up.

"He did properly identify himself. Whether the kids have permission or not to be there, an on-duty police detective addressed four underage people, and two decided they could do whatever they want.

"The whole thing ticks me off," the chief said. "I'm thinking, 'Where are we going when an on-duty policeman tells some teens to do something, and not only do they question authority but they assault him?'

"They could be Rhodes Scholars for all I care. They deserved to be arrested."

tmurse@lnpnews.com