A crowd of 200 young people descended on a California mall over the weekend, setting trash cans on fire and setting off illegal fireworks, forcing the mall to close, police said.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the “major disturbance” incident happened around 5:20 p.m. on Saturday at South Bay Pavilion Mall in Carson.
Police quickly arrived at the scene and ordered the large group to disperse, but when they refused, officers detained between 60 and 70 young people.
“Officers have detained multiple juveniles who have been issued summonses in connection with the incident and will be required to appear in court in the future,” the sheriff’s department said.
Local video showed dozens of young people lined up in the parking lot as police moved them away from the crowd and handcuffed them.
Authorities spent about five hours clearing the scene and writing charging documents for the minors who were taken into custody. KTLA5 reported.
Authorities said no thefts or injuries were reported during the disturbance but condemned the incident for its impact on local businesses and shoppers.
“This type of criminal activity is disruptive to our businesses and harmful to our communities and will not be tolerated,” the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities added that the incident remains under investigation, and the sheriff’s office vowed to hold those responsible for the rally accountable.
