Some Los Angeles-area parents are outraged that police took their children into custody after 200 teenagers rampaged inside a shopping mall, setting off fireworks and starting a fire.
In the end, police detained and charged more than 70 minors in connection with the massive disturbance that occurred at South Bay Pavilion Mall in Carson on Saturday night. KTLA-TV reported.Some parents and relatives also said the police response was excessive.
One mother told KTLA that her 11-year-old son in custody “had no papers, had never been in trouble, got all A’s. [sic] athlete.’
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies said around 5:30 p.m.Large and unruly gatheringsAbout 200 minors were arrested and the mall was forced to close early.
Authorities said several minors set off fireworks inside the store and someone else set a trash can on fire, KTLA reported.
Authorities told the station the crowd reportedly refused to comply with orders to disperse and more officers were then called to the scene after young people were causing disruption in the shopping centre and putting shoppers at risk.
According to KTLA, deputies were seen setting up a perimeter and diving into bushes to detain some young people, but many of the young people were in a panic trying to flee the mall when officers arrived.
Jamila Bouie, whose 16-year-old nephew was one of the 73 young people detained, told the station that police were overreacting: “I think they should have only detained the ones who started the fire, not all the kids. Only 30 of them. They said they have video of the kids who started the fire.”
Police officials said officers issued citations to the minors for refusing to disperse and disturbing the peace, forcing parents to pick up their children, though some parents argued their detention was unjustified.
One mother told KTLA that her 11-year-old son in custody “had no papers, had never been in trouble, got all A’s. [sic] athlete.”
But shoppers told the station they found the incident unsettling. “I come to the mall here a lot. I think it’s ridiculous. Parents should always keep an eye on their kids,” San Pedro resident Michelle Brooks told KTLA.
There were no reports of injuries or thefts from stores at the mall on Saturday night, the department said, and the mall remained open Sunday with a visible security presence.
You can watch a video report of the incident here here.
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